Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-03-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papantoniou says EU principles must be respected in relations with NATO

[02] Afghan minister refers to plight of women and children

[03] GNTO organises workshops with travel agents in Italy

[04] Gov't on Blair letter to Simitis regarding defence contracts

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[06] Weather Forecast: Unsettled on Saturday

[07] Greek stocks end the week 2.82 percent lower

[01] Papantoniou says EU principles must be respected in relations with NATO

ZARAGOZA, Spain (ANA) - Greek Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, attending here on Friday the start of a two-day informal meeting of EU defence ministers, said that Greece will not accept a cooperation text between the European Union and NATO which will not respect basic principles governing the EU.

Addressing reporters, he said the first basic principle is the securing of the autonomy of the EU when it takes decisions and particularly in cases when it will not be dependent on NATO installations.

The second basic principle is the complete equality and the corresponding obligations on issues between the EU-member states and third countries, Papantoniou said. These two principles should be incorporated and reflect any cooperation text, he said.

Papantoniou said Greece proposed that a meeting be held in November under its presidency which will examine the development of new possibilities and particularly new armament potential for the European army. He noted that the needs were many. He said there were also needs connected with the struggle against international terrorism and the prolongation of uncertainty in the Balkans which necessitates the active presence of the European Rapid Deployment Force on all these fronts.

[02] Afghan minister refers to plight of women and children

Sima Samar, Vice-chiarwoman of the transitional Afghan government and Minister of Women's Affairs and Human Rights, referred to the harsh reality being experienced in her country and the struggle she is waging to overturn it, at a press conference in Athens on Friday.

The press conference was organised by the Equality General Secretariat, the Peace Initiative of Women of Greece and Turkey, the UN's High Commission for Refugees, the European Parliament's Committee for Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities and the Political Association of Women which invited her to Greece.

''I am proud to be assuming this great responsibility in the transitional government and I hope I shall be able to heal some of Aghanistan's wounds,'' she said.

Samar said the women of Afghanistan and their children were the big victims of a 23-year war to which nobody had paid attention before September 11 when the international community was ''awakened'' to Afghanistan's drama.

[03] GNTO organises workshops with travel agents in Italy

Greece's National Tourist Organisation's office in Milan organised a series of workshops with the participation of around 460 travel package agents in several Italian cities, including Milan, Bologna, Palermo, Piacenza, Padova, Asty and Rapalo.

The workshops were attended by the prefect of Cephalonia island, and representatives from GNTO, Olympic Airways, ANEK Lines, HML, Helios Hotels & Resorts, Elounda Mare and Mamidakis Hotels.

The workshops were aimed to better promote Greek tourism to the Italian public and to forge closer personal and professional relations between tourist industry executives.

GNTO officials said the message delivered by these workshops was that Greece would be a leader in the Italian tourist market this year and urged for the continuation of such initiatives in the future.

[04] Gov't on Blair letter to Simitis regarding defence contracts

The government on Friday commented on a recent letter by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis regarding weapon systems procurement.

In reply to a relevant question during his regular press briefing, the government spokesman referred to standing decisions by the high-ranking Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA), based, as he said, on criteria dealing with weapon systems effectiveness, technical compatibility, cost and delivery deadlines.

?Several governments expressed their interests, KYSEA however, decided on the best offers,? spokesman Christos Protopapas said.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro until Tuesday. Monday is a market holiday in Greece.

U.S. dollar 0.886

Pound sterling 0.621

Danish kroner 7.493

Swedish kroner 9.089

Japanese yen 117.6

Swiss franc 1.471

Norwegian kroner 7.754

Cyprus pound 0.579

Canadian dollar 1.397

Australian dollar 1.666

[06] Weather Forecast: Unsettled on Saturday

Sunny spells and scattered cloud turning to rain and storms are forecast in most parts of the country. Snow will fall on high ground, and in low-lying areas of the north, worsening overnight. Winds variable, very strong to gale force. In the north, temperatures will range from 2C to 10C; on the rest of the mainland and Ionian from 6C to 15C; and in the islands from 11C to 17C. Alternating sunny spells, cloud and showers in Athens with temperatures between 10C and 15C. Snow will fall on Mount Parnes. Rain and storms in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 6C to 10C.

[07] Greek stocks end the week 2.82 percent lower

Equity prices extended their decline for one more session on the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, hit by lack of buying interest and by very low liquidity conditions in the market.

The general index fell 0.73 percent to end at 2,316.78 points, with turnover an improved 152.5 million euros, of which 49.9 million were block trades.

All sector indices ended with losses. The Insurance, Textile, Retail and Publication sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.76 percent, 1.40 percent, 1.29 percent and 1.07 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.65 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.49 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.50 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 232 to 76 with another 48 issues unchanged.

The general index ended the week with a net loss of 2.82 percent.

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