Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU Council of Foreign Ministers examines Commission's recent reports on

[02] PM briefs president, comments on Polytechnic uprising anniversary

[03] 30th anniversary of Polytechnic uprising celebrated in Athens

[04] Greek foreign minister slams incidents during Albanian elections

[05] \Greek tobacco producers join demo against EU overhaul

[06] Tourist coaches begin three-day strike Nov 26

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[08] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Tuesday

[09] Geopolotical worries push Greek stocks 1.43 pct lower

[01] EU Council of Foreign Ministers examines Commission's recent reports on Turkey

BRUSSELS (ANA/M. Spinthourakis) - The European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers convened here on Monday and examined the European Commission's recent reports on Turkey and Cyprus, relations between the EU and Balkan countries and developments in the Middle East.

Referring to Turkey's European prospects, Foreign Minister George Papandreou reiterated the Greek government's steadfast support for Turkey's candidacy, but underlined that everything depends on Turkey itself.

Papandreou conceded that recently Turkey has taken considerable steps in the direction of democratisation, but stressed that the European Commission acknowledges in its report that a deficit exists regarding implementation.

The foreign minister referred to specific examples related to difficulties faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, pointing out that the Turkish candidacy will also be judged on the basis of respect for religious minorities existing in Turkey.

[02] PM briefs president, comments on Polytechnic uprising anniversary

Emerging from a meeting with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Monday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said their talks had covered the full range of foreign and domestic affairs, though with greater emphasis on major foreign policy issues such as the Cyprus problem, Greek-Turkish relations and the European Union.

Simitis and Stephanopoulos met at noon at the presidential mansion for the regular president's briefing, which lasted about an hour and a quarter.

In statements for the 30th anniversary since the Polytechnic uprising, meanwhile, Simitis noted that the message of the Polytechnic today was one of ''constant struggle for essential change, progress, modernisation, changing attitudes and practices''.

According to the premier, this was a timeless and perenially living message that urged us to deal positively with what was new, take responsibility in the face of developments, not to be afraid and to work for a society that would be open for all and give all Greek citizens more opportunities.

[03] 30th anniversary of Polytechnic uprising celebrated in Athens

The 30th anniversary of the uprising of university students against the military dictatorship at the Athens Polytechnic University begun on Monday, marking the fateful date of November 17, at about 4 p.m. with a rally and a march headed by the blood stained Greek flag held by the students that died there in 1973.

Political parties, workers' unions, non-governmental organizations and non-organized citizens attended the rally that became a march through the streets of the city of Athens.

Early in the evening, celebrations ended with the conclusion of the march organized by political parties, workers' unions and other organizations to the American embassy.

[04] Greek foreign minister slams incidents during Albanian elections

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Monday criticised Albanian authorities and the government of Fatos Nano for the irregularities reported during repeat municipal elections in certain areas, including the region of Himare where there is a large ethnic Greek population.

According to a foreign ministry announcement, Papandreou made the statements while addressing an EU Council of Ministers' meeting focusing on the western Balkans in Brussels. The Greek minister called on the EU to take a tough stance over the incidents when assessing Albania's behaviour in the framework of negotiations for the Stability and Association pact with Tirana, so as to send a clear message to the Albanian side.

[05] \Greek tobacco producers join demo against EU overhaul

BRUSSELS (ANA/A.Simatos) - Greek tobacco producers took part in a demonstration in the Belgian capital on Monday to protest against reform of the sector by the European Union's executive Commission.

Around 5,000 producers in the protest called by Unitab, the sector's European umbrella union.

The reform plan aims to phase out subsidies.

[06] Tourist coaches begin three-day strike Nov 26

Owners of roughly 5,000 tourist coaches around the country are to begin a three-day strike on November 26 claiming that the government has ignored their demands.

Three owners' unions said in a joint statement that the ministries of finance, development and transport had broken written and verbal pledges.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.189

Pound sterling 0.703

Danish kroner 7.498

Swedish kroner 9.038

Japanese yen 129.5

Swiss franc 1.570

Norwegian kroner 8.270

Cyprus pound 0.587

Canadian dollar 1.550

Australian dollar 1.659

[08] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud, showers on Tuesday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country with some showers, especially in the north. The morning will be misty. Winds, light, turning strong later in the day. Temperatures are to rise slightly, with a minimum of 12C and maximum of 22C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, 7C to 12C.

[09] Geopolotical worries push Greek stocks 1.43 pct lower

Renewed geopolitical worries, after a wave of bombing attacks in the Middle East during the weekend, undermined sentiment in international and the Greek markets on Monday, pushing stock prices sharply lower.

The general index fell 1.43 percent to end at 2,132.57 points, off the day's lows of 2,127 points. Turnover was a moderate 93.5 million euros.

All sector indices ended lower with the Textile, Publications and Base Metals sectors suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day (5.26 percent, 2.95 percent and 2.87 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.53 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.56 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index plunged 2.76 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 302 to 30 with another 19 issues unchanged.

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