Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-03-11

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] New Greek FM meets UN envoy for Cyprus

[02] Powell contacts new Greek FM on the phone, discusses Cyprus, Olympics

[03] PM Karamanlis sends condolences to Spanish counterpart for Madrid train

[04] Increased security measures on Greece's public transport

[05] New prime minister holds first Olympic Games-related meeting

[06] 6th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival begins on March 15

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on Friday

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

[09] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks slump in wake of Madrid terrorist attack

[01] New Greek FM meets UN envoy for Cyprus

Greece's newly sworn-in foreign minister Petros Molyviatis on Thursday discussed the latest developments in United Nations-led talks for a Cyprus solution and the next stages in the process before the end of March with visiting UN envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

After his meeting with Molyviatis, de Soto expressed hope that the talks would lead to Cyprus' reunification before it officially joined the European Union on May 1.

The UN envoy said his first meeting with the new Greek foreign minister was satisfactory and that they had both agreed to work hard to achieve results in the ongoing talks taking place on the island based on a plan prepared by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Asked whether there will be a meeting between the four sides, namely Greece, Turkey, the Greek-Cypriot and the Turkish-Cypriot communities, de Soto said he was unable to answer at this time, revealing only that he had contacted all the sides involved and would be speaking with the Turkish side on the issue.

[02] Powell contacts new Greek FM on the phone, discusses Cyprus, Olympics

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday contacted Greece's newly sworn-in foreign minister Petros Molyviatis on the telephone to wish him good luck in his new duties.

Molyviatis said that they also discussed developments in the Cyprus issue and preparations for the Athens Olympics in August, noting that Powell appeared certain these would be successful.

[03] PM Karamanlis sends condolences to Spanish counterpart for Madrid train massacre

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sent a message of condolences to his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar on Thursday for what he said was the murder of innocent citizens during the terrorist attack on Madrid's rail network.

Karamanlis said in his message ''acts of hatred cannot reply to any of the challenges of our new century and for this reason they must be defeated and they shall be defeated.''

The prime minister further said ''please convey my sincere sympathy to the families and relatives of the victims on behalf of the Greek people and myself personally.''

The terrorist attack in Madrid resulted in 190 people being killed and over 1,200 injured.

[04] Increased security measures on Greece's public transport

Increased security measures have been taken throughout the country's public transport system, following the unprecedented terrorist attack that took place in Madrid on Thursday, killing 190 people and injuring over 1,200.

Hellenic Railways' (OSE) management has decided to step up security measures throughout its network as well as at OSE's buildings.

Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways S.A. (ISAP) has taken similar precautions, as well as increasing patrols of its stations and tunnels, which are already monitored 24-hours daily through a closed-circuit TV system.

Athens Metro security is handled by a private firm and measures remain unchanged.

[05] New prime minister holds first Olympic Games-related meeting

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis held the first meeting pertaining to Olympic Games issues at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday evening, one day after his new government was sworn into office.

The meeting which lasted more than two hours was attended by the ministers George Souflias (Environment, Town Planning and Public Works - YPEHODE), George Voulgarakis (Public Order), Theodoros Roussopoulos (State and Government Spokesman), Fani Pali-Petralia (Alternate Culture Minister), and Athens 2004 President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.

The main topics of discussion were the Games' security, infrastructure works being carried out by YPEHODE, and the Culture Ministry's sports projects.

Additionally, it was decided that the government would announce its proposed solutions to all Olympics-related problems following the prime minister's meeting with IOC President Jacques Rogge on Saturday.

[06] 6th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival begins on March 15

Terrorism will be one of the central subjects to be examined at the 6th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival which opens - more ambitious than ever - on March 15, according to the Festival's Artistic Director Dimitris Eipidis.

The festival, which cost 400 thousand euros - a relatively low budget compared to other international festivals - will feature 155 films (92 foreign productions and 63 Greek ones) and will deal with themes such as the environment, oppression of minorities and according to Eipides, ''films dedicated to those groups of people who don't have a voice in the mainstream media.''

Thirteen films will deal with the subject of terrorism from different perspectives.

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on Friday

Cloud and rain are forecast in all parts of the country, turning to storms in the west and south. Light snowfall on high ground on the mainland. The weather will improve from the northwest, starting late afternoon. Winds variable, moderate to strong. Temperatures in Athens 7C to 13C and in Thessaloniki from 4C to 9C.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.235

Pound sterling 0.684

Danish kroner 7.511

Swedish kroner 9.280

Japanese yen 136.6

Swiss franc 1.579

Norwegian kroner 8.652

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.634

Australian dollar 1.676

[09] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks slump in wake of Madrid terrorist attack

The Athens bourse finished lower on Thursday in adverse sentiment triggered by a terrorist attack in Madrid, tracking other European markets, traders said.

The general share index shed 2.46 per cent to end at 2,409.26 points. Turnover was 199.6 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 2.58 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 2.76 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities lost 2.63 per cent.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 305 to 29 with 24 issues remaining unchanged.

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