Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-03-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[02] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Tuesday

[03] PASOK leader outlines party's policies for culture, the arts, education

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.258

Pound sterling 0.673

Danish kroner 7.511

Swedish kroner 9.325

Japanese yen 137.3

Swiss franc 1.590

Norwegian kroner 8.786

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.684

Australian dollar 1.627

[02] Weather Forecast: Cloud, showers on Tuesday

Cloud and showers are forecast in all parts of the country, with storms in the northwest and Crete. Winds variable, light to moderate. Temperatures in Athens 10C to 17C and in Thessaloniki from 7C to 14C.

[03] PASOK leader outlines party's policies for culture, the arts, education

Ruling PASOK leader George Papandreou emphasised his party's focus on culture, education and the arts on Monday, addressing an audience at the Athens Concert Hall.

He stressed his commitment to making culture an aspect of all PASOK policies, noting that the culture ministry could play a role in inspiring thought on how to make culture a catalyst in Greek society.

According to the PASOK leader, his plans also focused on the economics of arts and culture, seeking to make this a growth sector along the lines of the British model, where the music industry had higher exports than steel.

Another aspect was to promote quality, innovation and experimentation, while a third goal was to increase ability in the arts by exposing the general public to cultural products via education in the arts in all sectors, with the help of new technologies and the assistance of various cultural bodies.

Papandreou also stressed the international promotion of Greece's cultural identity through the Internet and using culture as a bridge for communication with other traditions.

He said that Greece, because of its geographical position, should assist in dialogue between cultures for the peaceful resolution of differences, as an alternative to violence, while he stressed the success of the Olympic Truce initiative that had been signed by all the countries participating in the United Nations.

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