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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-03-11Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Tuesday, 11 March 2008 Issue No: 2840CONTENTS
[01] FM briefs EU counterparts on FYROM, western BalkansForeign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who represented Greece at the EU's General Affairs Council on Monday, briefed her counterparts on Greece's positions regarding the nagging FYROM "name issue" and on developments in the western Balkans, especially in Serbia and Kosovo.Speaking to reporters, the foreign minister said she reiterated at the Council the same positions outlined at NATO's ministerial session. Bakoyannis repeated that Greece's aim is to find a mutually acceptable solution concerning the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) name before the NATO summit in Bucharest next month. She also called again on the government of Skopje to attend negotiations that are underway with the same positive attitude that Greece is showing. Replying to a question on ostensible mediation by Washington between Athens and Skopje on the name issue, Bakoyannis said Greece welcomes all of its partners and allies who wish to assist efforts to find a solution. She stressed, however, that negotiations are a process that, in principle, are taking place under the auspices of the United Nations and, in particular, by UN mediator Matthew Nimetz. As regards developments in Serbia, EU foreign ministers agreed that every effort must be made to enable the country to receive a positive message on its European future and that all EU countries are determined to support its course towards the Union. The Council of Ministers also expressed a hope that political developments in Serbia will strengthen its European prospects. The Greek minister reiterated that the EU must sign a Stability and Cooperation Pact with Serbia, stressing that it is not fair that a democratic country should be punished "for sins perpetrated in the past, during a period of dictatorship." On the question of Kosovo, the Council of Ministers expressed its concern over the situation prevailing in the province and agreed with the presence of the European political force there. On her part, the Greek minister told her counterparts that Athens desires a stronger presence of the UN "in the sense that every move that we shall make in Kosovo will be in harmony with the UN Security Council's Resolution 1244." Lastly, with regard to negotiations between Greece and Washington on the abolition of passport visas for Greek citizens traveling to the United States, Bakoyannis said that over the past year Greece has started the so-called "visa waiver" process, during which talks are taking place with the US administration to have the requirement abolished. She also noted that an EU position exists that contains general directives on this issue, stressing that EU countries, whose citizens do not need a visa for the United States, had reached an agreement on a bilateral level and Greece is doing likewise. [02] Culture Minister Liapis to visit New YorkNEW YORK (ANA-MPA - P. Panagiotou)Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis will be visiting New York to inaugurate the exhibition titled "From the land of the Labyrinth: Minoan Crete 3000-1100 B.C." at the Cultural Centre of the "Alexandros Onassis" Foundation in Manhattan. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Liapis and the Foundation's President Antonis Papadimitriou on Wednesday night (local time). Liapis and Papadimitriou will also be giving a press conference on the same day on the content and the importance of the exhibition. A total of 280 exhibits will be displayed, some of which will be presented for the first time outside Greece. During his stay in New York, the culture minister will be meeting Archbishop of America Dimitrios and leading Greek Americans, with whom he will be discussing the issue of the New Acropolis Museum. [03] Development minister on power supplyDevelopment Minister Christos Folias on Monday referred to the country's electricity supply, noting that "we examined all the eventualities for this week."He said the coordination of all the involved agencies are continuous, so as to utilise every possibility in order for the Greek households to have smooth electricity supply. The minister said that "from then on it is clear that the government and the Development Ministry do not bargain public interest, the interest of the many. The foundation stone of democracy is equality and it is time for this to be aware by everyone." [04] KKE leader Papariga spends Clean Monday on Mt. ParnithaCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga spent a symbolic Clean Monday atop Mt. Parnitha, which was devastated by last year's wildfires.She was taking part in an event organised by the party's youth group, within the framework of "Action for Parnitha". Prevailing at the event were traditional Clean Monday food and popular music, at the same time giving the message of ecology and the protection of the environment. In statements, Papariga stressed that "when one is in this area, one of course remembers ill-fated Parnitha, one remembers the crime which has taken place all over Greece." She added that "at the same time, I at least, think about the rights of the working people, to have free time for recreation and at the same time to be in a good economic situation. Because free time requires money. Today, the working people neither have free time nor money. They feel insecurity and despair for the future." General News [05] Three hand-grenades thrown at Athens pizza parlorsUnidentified individuals threw three hand-grenades at an Athens pizza parlor in Athens early morning on Monday, with police attributing the attack to a network of blackmailers.The incident occurred at the junction of Aharnon and Efessou at the Aghios Panteleimonas district of central Athens. [06] Clash between foreigners at Athens barA clash between Romanians and Albanians occurred in an Athens bar at 1:30 a.m. on Monday and police reported that the incident was due to a misunderstanding.During the fracas, a 23-year-old Romanian, who worked as a bouncer at a bar in the district of Patissia, was shot in the chest and injured. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he is being treated in serious, but stable condition. According to police reports, the injured man reprimanded to two foreign nationals, reportedly Albanians, who were patrons at the bar, resulting in a melee that also involved another two Romanian acquaintainces of the bouncer, aged 26 and 29. During the clash, an Albanian shot the 23-year-old with a gun. The assailants then fled, while investigations are being conducted by Athens police. [07] 27-year- old Pakistani dies in a brawlA 27-year old Pakistani national was killed in a clash between three Pakistanis and four other individuals of foreign origin on early Sunday morning in the centre of Athens.According to the police, four men mugged the victim, resulting in the stabbing of the 27-year-old Pakistani, who was rushed by ambulance to Hospital, where his death was confirmed. [08] Port officials intercept 90 illegalsPort officials have intercepted and arrested 90 illegal immigrants, 42 of whom were concealed in a trailer truck and were attempting to leave the country illegally from the port of Patra, over the past three days.A total of 766 illegal immigrants and 16 immigrant smugglers have been intercepted all over the country during January and February this year. Fourteen boats and one vehicle have also been confiscated. Moreover, in the month of February aid had been provided for 186 people in a total of 39 search and rescue operations, with the assistance of the Unified Detection, Search and Rescue Centre. [09] Adulterated seafood confiscated in PiraeusPrefectural officials confiscated about 700 kilos of adulterated seafood from stores in the port city of Piraeus over the past two days. The quantity includes some 650 kilos of octopus, 80 kilos of squid and crayfish and 37 kilos of other seafood and meat.Sports [10] Greek Super League soccer resultsPanathinaikos Athens continued leading the Greek first division soccer championship (Super League) after defeating Larissa 2-0 at home on Sunday. Second-placed Olympiakos Piraeus mana-ged to defeat Veria 1-0 away. AEK Athens, in third place, thrashed OFI Crete 4-1 away.In other results of matches played over the weekend: Panionios-PAOK Thessaloniki 0-0 Iraklis Thessaloniki - Xanthi 1-1 Asteras Tripoli- Ergotelis Crete 1-1 Atromitos Athens - Apollon Kalamaria 3-0 Aris Thessaloniki - Levadiakos Livadia 1-0 Standings after 24 weeks of play: Panathinaikos 56 points Olympiakos 55 AEK 52 Aris 41 Panionios 35 Asteras 35 Xanthi 33 Larissa 32 PAOK 31 Atromitos 28 OFI 26 Iraklis 24 Levadiakos 21 Veria 20 Kalamaria 19 Ergotelis 18 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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