Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-03-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Election winner Karamanlis receives mandate to form government

[02] Erdogan says wants to cooperate harmoniously with ND gov't for Cyprus

[03] Olympic Games, Karamanlis' top priority

[04] U.S. State Department congratulates Karamanlis on his victory in the

[05] Industrialists seek action on jobs from new government

[06] Weather Forecast: Showers, storms on Tuesday

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

[01] Election winner Karamanlis receives mandate to form government

New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis, whose party won a comfortable parliamentary majority in Sunday's national elections, on Monday received a mandate from the President of the Republic to form a government.

At precisely 1:00 p.m. Monday, Karamanlis entered the Presidential Mansion to meet with President Costis Stephanopoulos, who told the ND leader ''I appoint you prime minister in accordance with the mandate and vote of the Greek people''.

Stephanopoulos told Karamanlis that ''everyone congratulates you, friends and opponents alike'' on ND's electoral victory.

The President also said that all the relevant Presidential Decrees would be ready for signing at the swearing-in of the new government, tentatively slated for Tuesday.

[02] Erdogan says wants to cooperate harmoniously with ND gov't for Cyprus solution

ISTANBUL (ANA/A. Kourkoulas) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that his government wants ''to cooperate harmoniouusly'' with the new Greek government of New Democracy (ND) for a settlement of the Cyprus issue.

''We also desire to contribute positively with the new government and to conclude the procedure, without leaving any gap in the (Annan) Plan or in the negotiations,'' he said.

''If we don't fill in all the gaps, as anticipated by the New York agreement, the gaps will be filled in by (UN Secretary-General Kofi) Mr. Annan,'' the Turkish premier said.

''I wish the elections in Greece will contribute positively in the timeframe for a solution,'' Erdogan said, noting that negotiations will start on March 22 with the participation of Greece and Turkey on the basis of the agreement which was reached in New York in February.

The Turkish Anadolu news agency reported that Erdogan believes that by then, the new Greek government will have secured a vote of confidence.

[03] Olympic Games, Karamanlis' top priority

The newly-elected New Democracy (ND) party, following the March 7 general elections, will place top priority on Olympic Games preparations, according to the new Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in a statement he made at Zappeion Mansion on Sunday.

According to ND party sources, Karamanlis will personally head efforts for the successful preparation of the Olympic Games. At a recent ND session, Karamanlis had stated that he will create a strong team of MPs and party members already familiar with related preparations problems so as to save time. Additionally, the mayors of Athens and Thessaloniki, Dora Bakoyianni and Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, respectively will also play a key role.

IOC President Jacques Rogge will be one of the first to visit Karamanlis and congratulate him on his victory, while Rogge has also announced that shortly after he will be meeting with the Greek prime minister again along with a team of IOC experts.

[04] U.S. State Department congratulates Karamanlis on his victory in the elections

WASHINGTON (ANA/T. Ellis) - U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Monday congratulated New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on his party's victory in the Greek general elections on Sunday.

Boucher said that ''Washington will cooperate closely'' with him ''on issues of mutual interest,'' such as the solution of the Cyprus problem and the hosting of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

According to the White House, President George W. Bush will soon send a congratulatory telegram to the newly-elected prime minister of Greece.

[05] Industrialists seek action on jobs from new government

The Association of Greek Industry (SEB) on Monday asked Greece's new government to take action on employment.

''The main issue in Greece is employment, which can only be tackled through economic growth, more jobs and education. These are the government's priorities and so I believe that the future will be good, will be optimistic for the country,'' SEB's president, Odysseas Kyriakopoulos said.

''We are optimistic that a strong government has emerged from the elections, which we believe will be in a position to meet the country's challenges this year and in coming years,'' Kyriakopoulos said in a statement.

The New Democracy party won general elections on Sunday with a strong majority.

[06] Weather Forecast: Showers, storms on Tuesday

Overcast weather turning to showers and brief storms are forecast in all parts of the country. Winds variable, strong to very strong. The weather will be slightly warmer. Temperatures in Athens 8C to 13C and in Thessaloniki from 6C to 9C.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates: Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.245

Pound sterling 0.673

Danish kroner 7.511

Swedish kroner 9.238

Japanese yen 139.7

Swiss franc 1.594

Norwegian kroner 8.720

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.649

Australian dollar 1.645

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