Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-04-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM satisfied with decisions taken by EU General Affairs Council on

[02] Greek fiscal deficit could exceed 2.95 pct, govt officials

[03] International Film Festival Ecocinema - Rhodes

[04] Parliament ratifies Euromediterranean agreements

[05] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise slightly

[06] Weather Forecast: Cloud and rain on Tuesday

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[01] FM satisfied with decisions taken by EU General Affairs Council on Cyprus

LUXEMBOURG (ANA/M. Spinthourakis) - Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, speaking to reporters on Monday, appeared satisfied with decisions taken by the European Union's Council of General Affairs on Cyprus, saying the main aim of Greek diplomacy at the Council was to make it clear that the decision taken by the Greek Cypriots will be honoured, while the EU should turn to the future and not the past to enable the creation of new conditions capable of leading to a solution of the Cyprus problem.

The foreign minister said Greece desires reunification and stressed his satisfaction over the fact that with decisions taken on Monday there is no question of partition or of the Turkish Cypriot ''state'' being recognised. He also noted the positive acceptance of the government of Cyprus' proposals to back the Turkish Cypriots.

Meanwhile, conclusions announced at the end of the EU's Council of General Affairs expressed regret over the failure of Cyprus to join the EU reunited, as well as its readiness to provide 259 million euros anticipated in the event of a solution to the issue of Cyprus.

The conclusions further stressed that the Council of Ministers took account of the outcome of the referenda in Cyprus on April 24, 2004, and expressed its great regret over the fact that the joining of a united Cyprus to the EU on May 1 is not possible at present.

[02] Greek fiscal deficit could exceed 2.95 pct, govt officials

Greece's general government's deficit could surpass 2.95 percent of Gross Domestic Product, government officials said on Monday.

Economy and Finance ministry officials said that the fiscal deficit could surpass the 3.0 percent limit set by the EU's Stability Pact if the European Commission reviewed its accounting method on evaluating the country's deficit taking into account pension funds' surpluses (the so-called ''white hole'') and other state spending.

A delegation of Eurostat's experts is currently visiting Greece to evaluate the country's general government's shortfall.

[03] International Film Festival Ecocinema - Rhodes

The 4th International Film Festival of Environmental Cinema ''Ecocinema'' will be held on the island of Rhodes from June 1-6.

Twelve features, 32 short films, and Greek films (separately) will be competing for an award. The Festival will also include films focusing on aborigine populations and on Italian films produced in the 20s and 30s related to the Dodecanese that have never been presented before.

Moreover, the award ''Ramsar'' is a new addition to the festival - a 4,000 euro prize for the best film with a water or related ecosystem theme.

[04] Parliament ratifies Euromediterranean agreements

The Greek Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday evening ratified the Euromediterranean agreements between the European Union and Lebanon and Algeria. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) voted against ratification.

[05] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise slightly

The Athens bourse on Monday finished slightly higher with interest centred on bank shares, traders said.

The general share index gained 0.32 per cent to end at 2,530.23 points. Turnover was 102.3 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.78 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.22 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities dropped 1.26 per cent.

Of stocks traded, decliners led advances at 218 to 93 with 53 issues remaining unchanged.

[06] Weather Forecast: Cloud and rain on Tuesday

Cloud and rain is forecast in the east and south and local storms in the rest of the country. Winds northerly light to moderate. Temperatures in Athens from 12C to 19C and in Thessaloniki between 13C and 19C.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.194

Pound sterling 0.668

Danish kroner 7.500

Swedish kroner 9.181

Japanese yen 129.9

Swiss franc 1.569

Norwegian kroner 8.307

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.617

Australian dollar 1.627

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