Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-12-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM flatly dismisses latest round of succession rumours

[02] FM says justice given in Loizidou case

[03] Greek UNICEF Committee undertakes activities against xenophobia and

[04] Confederation for disabled submits 2003 report to Parliament

[05] Athens mayor inaugurates 'Network Athens' system

[06] Greece to be the honored country of the Arco artistic event in Spain

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Thursday

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[09] Greek stocks hit 2,200-point level on Wednesday

[01] PM flatly dismisses latest round of succession rumours

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday again dismissed local press speculation regarding the possibility of his succession at the helm of the ruling PASOK party either ahead of next springs elections or after.

Simitis spoke at a press luncheon hosted by the Athens-based Foreign Press Association of Greece, where he appeared confident PASOK will win a third consecutive four-year term.

He again said elections will take place in either April or May without providing a specific date -- as the spring of 2003 essentially exhausts the current government's mandate.

Moreover, he clarified that he is not interested in a possible move to a European position, ''I will remain in the country.''

In citing two major goals of his government, Simitis pointed to the successful hosting of the 2004 Olympics in Athens next year as well as a viable and fair solution to the Cyprus problem, also in 2004.

[02] FM says justice given in Loizidou case

Foreign Minister George Papandreou, commenting on the decision taken by the Council of Europe regarding the payment of compensation to Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou by Turkey, said on Wednesday justice was given in the case of Loizidou and with the price paid by Turkey.

Loizidou had demanded compensation from Turkey for depriving her of the enjoyment of her property after it invaded and occupied northern Cyprus in the summer of 1974.

''This decision is important because, precisely, it recognises the right not only of Mrs. Loizidou but also of many others who have lost their proerty,'' he said, adding that it was also the result of the coordinated efforts of Greece and Cyprus over the past five years.

The foreign minister expressed hope that the new year will be the year in which a solution will be found for the issue of Cyprus, in accordance with UN resolutions and on the basis of negotiations on the Annan plan.

[03] Greek UNICEF Committee undertakes activities against xenophobia and racism

UNICEF's Greek Committee has undertaken a series of activities aimed at facing phenomena of xenophobia and racism in the framework of its participation in ''Develomental joint action for equality and social cohesion,'' created for the implementation of the work of the Social Cohesion Forum.

UNICEF has proceeded with the creation of a special anti-racist package for kindergartens and elementary schools which it has printed in 1,650 copies, while 748 educational anti-racist packages have been mailed to 536 schools in the municipalities of Athens and Aharnes.

UNICEF is also participating in the subproject of creating school networks for the implementation of a pilot anti-racist programme.

The organisation will also organise an intercultural celebration in the framework of the target of combatting xenophobia, racism and discrimination. The event will take place at the Athens municipality's indoor stadium on Strefi hill on December 14.

[04] Confederation for disabled submits 2003 report to Parliament

The National Confederation of People with Disabilities on Wednesday submitted its annual report on human and social rights for the disabled in 2003 to Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis.

The report is delivered to the head of the Greek Parliament every year on December 3, which has been established as the National Day for the Disabled. It will be discussed before the Parliament plenum next Wednesday.

It is entitled ''People with Disabilities: Equal citizens. A National Action Plan for Disability 2004-2010. Reducing the gap between political goals and reality''.

As he received the report, Kaklamanis noted that up to 10 per cent of the population of Greece suffered from some sort of disability, a fact that Greek society as a whole did not seem to fully appreciate.

''Our response and sensitisation is necessary in order to assuage the problems, both of people with disabilities and of their relatives, particularly parents who fear for their children once they have gone,'' Kaklamanis noted.

[05] Athens mayor inaugurates 'Network Athens' system

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni on Wednesday inaugurated ''Network Athens'' at the municipality's 1st sector Citizens Service Centre (CSC).

''Network Athens'' is the first integrated and comprehensive system serving local residents, consisting of the municipality's seven CSCs and a special ''Municipal citizens - 195'' phone line offering services to local residents over the phone.

The network will also provide information on all upcoming events organised by the Athens municipality and give an immediate response to complaints, reports and observations.

[06] Greece to be the honored country of the Arco artistic event in Spain

Greece will be the honored country of the next Arco art exhibition that will open its doors in Madrid on Feb. 11, 2004 and it will be represented in the affair by 15 different art galleries from Athens and Thessaloniki.

The event was announced during a press conference by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Wednesday.

Arco will be inaugurated by King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sophia and it will include photography exhibitions, architecture and art, while 26 Greek artists will also participate in the ''Breakthrough'' exhibition event that is taking place in parallel with the Arco affair.

Another parallel event of Arco, a photographic exhibition of Greek artists of the 1960s and 1970s will take place, as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

[07] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Thursday

Cloudy weather is forecast throughout the country with scattered showers over the eastern mainland and northern Crete. Winds variable, moderate to very strong, turning gale force in parts of the Aegean and then easing off. Temperatures to rise slightly, with a minimum of 11C and maximum of 15C in Athens; and in Thessaloniki, 09C to 13C.

[08] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.219

Pound sterling 0.705

Danish kroner 7.501

Swedish kroner 9.058

Japanese yen 132.3

Swiss franc 1.569

Norwegian kroner 8.207

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.582

Australian dollar 1.659

[09] Greek stocks hit 2,200-point level on Wednesday

Greek stocks rose on Wednesday pushing the general index temporarily above the 2,200-point level in the Athens Stock Exchange.

The index finally ended at 2,197.74 points, up 0.79 percent with turnover a heavy 251.1 million euros.

The Publication and Construction sectors were the only ones to suffer losses (0.79 percent and 0.09 percent, respectively), while the Insurance (2.29 percent), Food-Beverage (2.13 percent) and Telecommunications (1.53 percent) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains.

Telecommunications stocks were at the focus of buying activity and the biggest movers of the day, with trading in Hellenic Telecoms, Panafon and Cosmote accounting for more than 50 percent of the day's turnover.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.99 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.62 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index jumped 1.29 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 202 to 97 with another 60 issues unchanged.

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