Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-03-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece's EU presidency backs creation of consumer movement

[02] Olympics soccer stadium due for completion in July 2004

[03] Anti-war protesters stage rallies around the country

[04] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Sunday

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[01] Greece's EU presidency backs creation of consumer movement

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Saturday that Greece's current presidency of the European Union would back the creation of a European consumer movement.

The presidency planned to promote talks on the role, possibilities and founding process of a movement, said Tsohatzopoulos at the end of a two-day EU conference on consumers and enlargement of the 15-nation bloc.

''What is needed is dialogue and a juxtoposition of viewpoints, as we want to see a democratic institution of consumer participation in which producers and market players would also take part,'' the minister noted.

The event arranged in the northern port city of Thessaloniki by the economic and social committees of Greece and the EU coincided with European Consumer Day on Saturday.

[02] Olympics soccer stadium due for completion in July 2004

A soccer stadium for use in the Athens 2004 Olympics will be completed in July 2004, national organisers of the event said on Saturday.

Demolition of the decrepit Karaiskaki stadium is to begin on April 7 to make way for the new facility that will meet Olympics specifications, the organising committee told a news conference.

The new stadium, which is to host at least 11 games in the Olympics, will have a seating capacity of 32,000.

In addition, a delegation of the FIFA soccer association said at the end of a visit to Greece on Saturday that it was satisfied with progress towards the games, although deadlines needed to be met as time was short.

[03] Anti-war protesters stage rallies around the country

Thousands of protesters against war on Iraq marched to the US embassy in central Athens on Saturday calling for a halt to planned hostilities.

A rally was also staged outside the national defence ministry, asking the government to keep Greece out of any war.

Among groups taking part were the Coalition of the Left and Progress, the Social Forum from Greece and other European countries, the ADEDY civil servants' union, Greenpeace, and Doctors of the World.

The leader of the Coalition of the Left, Nikos Constantopoulos, called on Greece to express full opposition to the war and refrain from providing facilities.

On the southern Aegean island of Crete, demonstrators blocked access to a base on the island, vowing to encamp there the night.

In the northern port city of Thessaloniki, thousands of protesters took to the streets in a march to the US consulate to call for an end to war plans on Iraq.

[04] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Sunday

Cloud and showers are forecast in most parts of the country, with storms in the west and a little snow on high ground and in low lying areas of the centre and north. Winds variable, strong to very strong, turning gale force in parts of the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from -2C to 5C; on the rest of the mainland and in the Ionian from 2C to 11C; and in the Aegean islands from 7C to 14C. Temperatures in Athens between 5C and 10C; and in Thessaloniki from 2C to 5C. Snow may fall on mountains around the capital.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.086

Pound sterling 0.683

Danish kroner 7.488

Swedish kroner 9.279

Japanese yen 128.7

Swiss franc 1.479

Norwegian kroner 7.838

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.616

Australian dollar 1.822

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