Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-01-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek FM Papandreou in Ankara on Thursday for EU Troika, bilateral

[02] Weather Forecast: Cloudy, showery on Thursday

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[04] Greek and Hungarian PMs discuss Hungary's EU accession and bilateral

[01] Greek FM Papandreou in Ankara on Thursday for EU Troika, bilateral talks

Greece's foreign minister George Papandreou, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, leaves for Ankara on Thursday for EU Troika talks with Turkey on Friday on EU-Turkey relations and Turkey's European perspective. He will also hold talks later Thursday with the Turkish government on bilateral relations.

[02] Weather Forecast: Cloudy, showery on Thursday

Cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, turning to showers in the west, centre and north, and in the eastern Aegean islands, with storms in the west. Snow will fall on high ground in the north. Winds southwesterly, strong to very strong, turning gale force at sea. In the north, temperatures will range from 1C to 13C; on the rest of the mainland from 1C to 13C; and in the islands from 5C to 14C. Temperatures in Athens between 4C and 12C; and in Thessaloniki from 0C to 10C.It may rain in both cities in the evening.

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.095

Pound sterling 0.665

Danish kroner 7.494

Swedish kroner 9.287

Japanese yen 129.5

Swiss franc 1.479

Norwegian kroner 7.517

Cyprus pound 0.583

Canadian dollar 1.667

Australian dollar 1.854

[04] Greek and Hungarian PMs discuss Hungary's EU accession and bilateral relations

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and his Hungarian counterpart Peter Medghessy on Wednesday discussed Hungary's upcoming accession to the European Union, issues concerning the future of Europe and bilateral relations between Greece and Hungary.

The Hungarian prime minister called on the Greek EU presidency to examine the issue of restrictions being imposed by the EU, over a long period following accession, on the free movement of Hungarian working people.

Simitis said the presideny will examine Hungary's claims, while in the case of Greece the decision on whether this transitional period is implemented will be taken by April.

Medghessy said the Greek presidency's priorities coincide with Hungary's intentions and referred to issues concerning immigration as both countries have equally long borders.

Athens and Budapest agreed to create a cooperation committee to be activated in the economic sector in the Middle East and the Balkans.

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