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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou: War avoidable if Iraqi side fully cooperates

[02] President, Greek EU presidency offer condolences over Columbia tragedy

[03] Weather Monday - Cloudy, clearing

[04] Archbishop Dimitrios on planning for preservation of Greek language in

[05] ATHOC chief outlines importance of security at Athens 2004 Olympic

[01] Papandreou: War avoidable if Iraqi side fully cooperates

DAMASCUS (ANA F. Karaviti) -- Both the Greek and Syrian foreign ministers on Sunday appeared steadfast over the issue of strictly implementing UN Security Council resolution 1441 regarding Iraq, as George Papandreou the current EU Council of Ministers president was received here by his Syrian counterpart Farouk al-Shara.

Papandreou added that there are still margins for a ?peaceful resolution of the crisis in Iraq.?

He also reiterated that the European Union has a clear-cut position regarding Iraq, one that falls completely within the framework of resolution 1441.

The Greek foreign minister, who was accompanied by the EU special envoy for the Middle East Miguel Angel Moratinos, arrived in Damascus over the weekend for the first stop of his crucial regional tour.

He was first received by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad before giving a joint press conference with this counterpart, where both men reiterated their support for the complete implementation of 1441.

[02] President, Greek EU presidency offer condolences over Columbia tragedy

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Sunday sent a message to President George W. Bush expressing his deepest condolences to the US government and the families of the seven crewmembers on the ill-fated Columbia space shuttle, which exploded over Texas Saturday while headling for a landing.

The Greek EU presidency and main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis also sent telegrams of condolences to President Bush earlier in the day.

[03] Weather Monday - Cloudy, clearing

Cloudy with a chance of snow in the mountainous regions is forecast on Monday for northern Greece, with conditions improving gradually throughout the country in the afternoon. Northerly winds, moderate to strong on the seas. Temperatures between -4C to 4C in the north; -2C to 10C on the rest of the mainland and 6C to 12C on the islands.

Only a chance of rain in Athens, 3C to 9C. A possibility of sleet in Thessaloniki, -1 to 6C.

[04] Archbishop Dimitrios on planning for preservation of Greek language in the US

WASHINGTON (ANA/P. Panagiotou) - The Archbishopric of America is proceeding in a long-term planning for the preservation and perpetuation of the Greek language in the United States, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Dimitrios told the ANA on Saturday on the occasion of celebrations marking ''Day of Greek Letters'', January 30.

The archbishop said ''with planning and seriousness the prospects are being examined for the creation of a strong central fund which will constitute the support of the community schools and in general all the programme for Greek education.''

The archbishop said there are 23 day schools under the auspices of the Archbishopric of America in various states in the US and that the number of pupils in the academic year 2002-2003 totalled only 4,370. ''We do not deny the problem. The problem is how we deal with it,'' he said.

[05] ATHOC chief outlines importance of security at Athens 2004 Olympic Games

Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organising Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki in an article in the Washingtonm Times hailed the contribution of the Olympic Games in bridging differences between peoples and nations and the elevation of the human spirit.

The ATHOC president also underlined the effort which must be made in the sector of security, noting that ''three decades after Munich, the Olympic tradition obliges us, more than ever before, to take the necessary measures for the security of the Olympic Games, so that the athletes and the spectators participate in a climate of confidence and security. Greece faces this responsibility with great seriousness.''

Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said Greece ''will spend more than 600 million dollars in infrastructures and security equipment for the 2004 Games - a sum which constitutes by far the highest security budget in Olympic history.''

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