Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-01-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM Papandreou calls on Turkish Cypriots to display political will for

[02] Papandreou, Karamanlis continue tour of provinces

[03] Greece, Czech Republic to promote farm cooperation

[04] Pratt & Whitney, Hellenic Aerospace set up joint venture in Greece

[05] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms, snow on Friday

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

[01] FM Papandreou calls on Turkish Cypriots to display political will for solution

Foreign minister George Papandreou on Thursday called on the Turkish Cypriot community to display ''substantial political volition'' on the issue of resolving the Cyprus problem, prompted by the recent mobility surrounding the Annan plan.

Speaking in Thessaloniki, Papandreou said that Greek foreign policy had succeeded in placing the Cyprus problem at the top of the list of priorities of the European Union, the United States and international organisations.

Developments were on the horizon on the Cyprus issue, he said, adding that ''we see (Turkish prime minister Tayyip) Erdogan saying that Turkey wants the Cyprus problem resolved''.

''We welcome this statment, but we want to see it in action. We welcome the new mobility on the Turkish side. We are awaiting substantial volition also on the part of the Turkish Cypriot side. Finally, there must be a just solution for Cyprus, so as to leave this wound behind us,'' Papandreou said.

[02] Papandreou, Karamanlis continue tour of provinces

Political leaders continue their appearances and statements on Thursday, as the pre-election continues to heat up prior to the March 7 election and the Feb. 11 dissolution of Parliament.

Speaking from Thessaloniki, Foreign Minister George Papandreou the only candidate to succeed PM Costas Simitis as the helm of ruling PASOK after the latter announced he was stepping down after the elections said both major parties should agree on national priorities, no matter which party is in government or the main opposition after March 7.

On his part, ND leader Costas Karamanlis spoke with farmers and professional fishermen in Fthiotida prefecture, stressing that current agriculture ministry will be renamed and given a new direction as the ?agricultural development and products ministry?.

He also pointed to a clash with red tape and bureaucracy, as he said, noting the farm extension agents and agronomists should better assist farm professionals in the field and not from offices and ministry corridors.

[03] Greece, Czech Republic to promote farm cooperation

Agriculture Ministers from Greece and Czech Republic, Mr George Drys and Mr Jaroslav Palas, respectively, on Thursday announced an agreement to set up a joint commission of Greek and Czech businessmen that would examine ways to expand trade relations between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters, during a news conference in the framework of the 20th Agrotica trade fair in Thessaloniki, Mr Drys stressed the current good relations between the two countries in the agriculture sector and announced that both sides agreed to promote new channels of communication and cooperation.

The commission will operate under the supervision of Agriculture Ministry' secretary-general for International Financial Relations, Mr Andreas Korakas, and his Czech counterpart.

The commission's first task will be to prepare an exchange of visits by business delegations between the two countries in the first half of 2004.

[04] Pratt & Whitney, Hellenic Aerospace set up joint venture in Greece

Pratt & Whitney of the US and Hellenic Airspace Industry (HAI) of Greece said on Thursday that they had forged an agreement to set up a joint venture in Greece that will carry out maintenance and repairs of aircraft control systems and engines.

The new firm is to operate on HAI's premises at the beginning of 2005 with a start-up capital of 15 million US dollars, rising to 30 million dollars by the end of investment, the parent companies said in a statement.

Initially, the project will bring 50 new jobs, eventually increasing to 100 posts, the statement said.

The firm will handle both civil and military contracts, according to HAI's chairman and managing director, Dionysios Xenos.

[05] Weather Forecast: Rain, storms, snow on Friday

Rain and storms are forecast in all parts of the country with snow on high ground in the mainland and in low-lying areas of the north. Winds variable, moderate to very strong, turning gale force in the Aegean. The weather will be colder. Temperatures in Athens 4C to 11C and in Thessaloniki 2C to 9C. It may snow on mountains around the capital.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates: Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.256

Pound sterling 0.690

Danish kroner 7.508

Swedish kroner 9.237

Japanese yen 133.1

Swiss franc 1.574

Norwegian kroner 8.834

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.667

Australian dollar 1.632

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