Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-01-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] President receives Greece's leadership for New Year's Day wishes

[02] Coast guard arrests four Turkish nationals for smuggling

[03] President addresses armed forces event

[04] Weather Forecast: Snow and rain on Wednesday

[01] President receives Greece's leadership for New Year's Day wishes

President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Tuesday received Greece's political, religious and judicial leadership and exchanged wishes for the New Year, while he also received representatives of the diplomatic corps and intellectuals.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis was the first to visit the president to exchange wishes for the New Year. The president wished him "success in the government's planning".

Among dignitaries visiting the president were Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) secretary Aleka Papariga and Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas.

[02] Coast guard arrests four Turkish nationals for smuggling

The special missions squad of the Greek coast guard on Wednesday arrested four Turkish nationals on charges of transporting 193 illegal immigrants into Greece from Turkey.

The four were arrested on the small Aegean island of Gioura, were the illegal immigrants were discovered, authorities said.

[03] President addresses armed forces event

Concern over foreign policy is obligatory, Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos said during his New Year address to the Greek armed forces on Wednesday, in regards to Turkeys stance.

He also spoke of the euro and Greece's new prospects as a full partner of the other 11 European Union member-states that will share the new common currency, which as he said causes us to feel hope, but fear as well.

"It is the responsibility of each one of us to utilize the new capabilities for the benefit of our people," he said.

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis and other notables were present at the event.

[04] Weather Forecast: Snow and rain on Wednesday

Rain and snow is forecast for most parts of the country on Wednesday, while later in the day conditions will improve. Winds northerly, moderate to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from -12C to 1C; on the rest of the mainland from -6C to 6C; and in the islands from 4C to 9C. Rain and snow in Athens with temperatures between -1C to 5C. Cloudy in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from -8C to 1C, and snow in the higher elevations of the city.

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