Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-03-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN chief Annan meets Greek and Turkish premiers

[02] Jerusalem Greek Orthodox Patriarch recognised by Israel

[03] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, rain on Thursday

[04] Papadopoulos says Annan's final plan does not satisfy Greek Cypriot

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[06] Greek gov't says chances of agreed solution for Cyprus are slim

[01] UN chief Annan meets Greek and Turkish premiers

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the presence of the two countries' foreign ministers, in Burgenstock, Switzerland, late Wednesday evening shortly before he was due to hand to the sides involved in the Cyprus talks the final version of his plan on a comprehensive settlement.

According to sources, they discussed the further procedures for the handing over of the texts (planned for 11:30 Greek time) and of the accompanying letters.

Annan asked of the two prime ministers to be in touch for the next stages of the procedure.

[02] Jerusalem Greek Orthodox Patriarch recognised by Israel

The government of the state of Israel proceeded on Wednesday in recognising the election of Jerusalem Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos which took place on August 13, 2001.

The document of the government's recognition was given to Irineos by Israeli Interior MinisterAbraham Poraz.

[03] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, rain on Thursday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country on Thursday, with rain in the west, south and central Greece. Winds variable, strong to very strong. Temperatures in Athens 9C to 16C and in Thessaloniki from 6C to 14C.

[04] Papadopoulos says Annan's final plan does not satisfy Greek Cypriot side

BURGENSTOCK (ANA/F. Karaviti) - The final changes made by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to his plan for a settlement of the Cyprus issue do not satisfy the Greek Cypriot side, according to a statement made here early Wednesday evening by Cypriot government spokesmanKypros Chrysostomides.

The spokesman announced that Annan had called Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos earlier in the day and briefed him on the final changes he aims to introduce to his plan.

''The president expressed the opinion that they are not satisfactory and discussed with Mr. Annan the positions which the Greek Cypriot side had submitted and were not adopted. He explained the reasons why his positions should have been taken into consideration,'' Chrysostomides said.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.232

Pound sterling 0.671

Danish kroner 7.504

Swedish kroner 9.332

Japanese yen 127.9

Swiss franc 1.571

Norwegian kroner 8.503

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.610

Australian dollar 1.618

[06] Greek gov't says chances of agreed solution for Cyprus are slim

BURGENSTOCK (ANA - A. Panagopoulos)The Greek government on Wednesday made it clear that the chances of an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem were becoming increasingly slim.

In statements at the Swiss Alpine resort of Burgenstock near Lake Lucerne where the talks are taking place, Greek government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stressed that ''the margins for finding an agreed solution at this time are not great''.

Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis has briefed President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, the political party leaders and former premiers Costas Simitis and Constantine Mitsotakis on the latest developments and has met with ''general consensus,'' according to Greek diplomatic sources.

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