Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-03-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Sports roundup

[02] Greece - Turkey - Sabah - Report (recasts)

[03] Santorini-New Museum

[04] Hillary Clinton-March 25

[05] Greece-Yugoslavia

[06] Police-Death-Charges

[07] Greece-Schengen Treaty

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

[09] Weather Forecast-Monday

[10] Greece-Turkey-Sabah

[01] Sports roundup

Soccer

No change atop standings after Sunday�s derby

Cross-town rivals Olympiakos Piraeus and Panathinaikos Athens drew to a 2-2 tie on Sunday after a see-saw contest, thereby keeping the former three points ahead of the second.

The tie leaves Olympiakos ahead of the Greek first division standings with 67 points to Panathinaikos� 64.

The Piraeus club jumped out in front in the 8th minute, only to be tied in the 22nd minute before falling behind 1-2 in 79th. The second equalizer came only one minute later. Olympiakos was playing as the nominal host, as both teams share the Athens Olympic Stadium.

[02] Greece - Turkey - Sabah - Report (recasts)

The Greek government on Saturday immediately reacted to a Turkish newspaper report claiming that Ankara has placed Archbishop Christodoulos and eight other Greek public figures on a �blacklist�, effectively barring their entry into the neighbouring country.

"If the Turkish newspaper report corresponds to reality, then we most strongly condemn any decision to ban the entry of Greeks into Turkey, especially the leader of the (Autocephalus Orthodox) Church of Greece. The decision must immediately be rescinded," foreign ministry spokesman Panayiotis Beglitis said. The report on the alleged ban against Archbishop Christodoulos, seven Parliament deputies and a retired naval officer appeared in the Turkish mass daily "Sabah".

The newspaper claimed the nine Greek nationals were among 56 Europeans also barred from entering Turkey by that country�s interior ministry for ?anti-Turkish sentiment?, including support for Kurdish autonomy.

"These acts originate from circles in Turkey that are nostalgic for the Cold War epoch in Greek-Turkish relations, bucking efforts by both peoples to turn a new page and begin a new era in ties between the two countries," Beglitis said in a written statement.

"The decision is in direct opposition to European practice and substantially undermines Turkey's course towards the European Union," he added.

[03] Santorini-New Museum

SANTORINI (ANA) - President Costis Stephanopoulos on Sunday inaugurated the Museum of Prehistoric Thira (Santorini) on the Aegean island's capital, Fira.

Exhibits at the new museum include finds from the earlier neolithic era (4,500 BC) until the start of the late Cycladic era (beginning of the 17th century), and the Fira's peak period in the 17th century.

Also attending the ceremony was Culture Minister Elisavet Papazoi.

[04] Hillary Clinton-March 25

NEW YORK (ANA-M.Georgiadou) - US First Lady Hillary Clinton for the first time joined a March 25 celebration, a national holiday marking the start of Greece's war of independence from Ottoman rule.

Hillary Clinton was the guest of the Federation of Greek Unions in Astoria.

[05] Greece-Yugoslavia

BELGRADE (ANA-M.Mouratidis) - The Greek embassy in Belgrade has donated funds to a municipality near Kosovo's administrative borders that was damaged by NATO bombings last year, instead of holding a national Independence Day reception on March 25.

The money will be contributed to reconstruction and the needs of refugees from Kosovo, embassy officials said.

[06] Police-Death-Charges

THESSALONIKI (ANA) - A public prosescutor on Sunday brought charges of premeditated murder and illegal arms' use against a police officer after his service pistol went off in a scuffle with an 18-year-old suspect, killing the youth, judicial sources said on Sunday.

Thessaloniki police headquarters had issued a statement on Saturday, the day of the incident, describing the youth's death as manslaughter through negligence. It identified him as Nikolaos Leonidis, a Georgian of Greek origin.

[07] Greece-Schengen Treaty

Europe's open-border Schengen Treaty took effect in Greece on Sunday, allowing travellers to fly to eight countries named in the pact without showing a passport.

The measure also applies to vistors from the eight countries who wish to enter Greece.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

Following are indicative foreign exchange buying rates for commercial banks released by the central bank for the next working day.

Monday's rates (buying)

Euro 331.576

U.S. dollar 341.972

[09] Weather Forecast-Monday

Scattered cloud is forecast throughout the country on Monday, turning showery in the northern Ionian, Epirus, western mainland Greece and Macedonia. Winds will be southerly, moderate to strong, turning very strong at sea.

[10] Greece-Turkey-Sabah

The government has strongly condemned a Turkish newspaper report claiming that Ankara placed Archbishop Christodoulos and eight other public figures on a blacklist, barring their entry into the neighbouring country.

"If the Turkish newspaper report corresponds to reality, then we most strongly condemn the decision to ban the entry of Greeks into Turkey, especially the leader of the Church of Greece. The decision must immediately be rescinded," foreign ministry spokesman Panayotis Beglitis said on Saturday evening.

The report on the alleged ban on Archbiship Christodoulos, seven deputies and a retired naval commander appeared in Turkey's Sabah newspaper.

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