Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-04-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Public deficit may rise to 3.2 pct in 2004, breaching EU limit

[02] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Wednesday

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

[04] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose down

[05] British ambassador Madden hopes Cypriots vote 'yes' on Annan Plan

[06] Mercouri Foundation chief Dassen assured by PM on new Acropolis Museum

[01] Public deficit may rise to 3.2 pct in 2004, breaching EU limit

Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said on Tuesday that the European Union is to set Greece's 2003 public deficit at 3.0 percent of gross domestic product, or the bloc's targeted limit, with the figure likely to rise to 3.2 per cent in 2004.

The minister repeated that his objective was sound financial management, curbs on spending, and a rise in tax revenue, but not through new taxes.

The new government's economic programme will gradually come into effect in 2005, with tax reform due for announcement in September, he added.

[02] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Wednesday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country with showers likely in the northern Ionian, Epirus and Macedonia. Winds south-southwesterly, moderate to strong, turning very strong in the Ionian. Temperatures in Athens from 8C to 21C and in Thessaloniki between 6C and 18C.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.218

Pound sterling 0.663

Danish kroner 7.505

Swedish kroner 9.275

Japanese yen 129.2

Swiss franc 1.578

Norwegian kroner 8.442

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.591

Australian dollar 1.605

[04] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose down

The Athens bourse finished slightly lower on Tuesday, traders said.

The general share index shed 0.14 per cent to end at 2,415.66 points. Turnover was 144.6 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.24 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.01 per cent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities gained 0.11 per cent.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 143 to 135 with 77 issues remaining unchanged.

[05] British ambassador Madden hopes Cypriots vote 'yes' on Annan Plan

British embassador in Athens Dave Madden on Tuesday expressed hope that the two sides in Cyprus will vote in favour of UN secretary general Kofi Annan's plan for a Cyprus settlement.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Greek foreign minister Petros Molyviatis, Madden said he hoped that the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities would vote 'yes' on the Annan plan during simultaneous referenda on the divided island republic on April 24.

Noting that "the final decision belongs to the Cypriots", Madden also expressed hope that a united Cyprus would accede the European Union on May 1.

Ο κ. Μάντεν επισήμανε πάντως ότι ''η τελική απόφαση ανήκει στους Κυπρίους'' και εξέφρασε την ελπίδα για την ένταξη μιας ενωμένης Κύπρου στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ενωση.

[06] Mercouri Foundation chief Dassen assured by PM on new Acropolis Museum

Prime minister Costas Karamanlis, who also holds the culture ministry portfolio, on Tuesday assured internationally-renowned film director and president of the Melina Mercouri Foundation that the new Acropolis museum will be built.

Speaking to reporters after his morning meeting with Karamanlis, Dassen said that the prime minister had assured him that ''the Museum will be completed''.

Deputy culture ministere Petros Tatoulis, who also attended the meeting, said that ''we will carry on with construction of the Museum along this rationale'', referring to an intiail tender for the project approved in the past.

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