Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Zero tolerance for corruption

[02] Steps to boost Greek cuisine

[03] President Bush praises Greece's role in Balkans, Mideast as new Greek ambassador Mallias presents his credentials

[01] Zero tolerance for corruption

He said that the citizens could not be inconvienced by demands for 'envelopes' by civil servants who did not respect their vows, referring to corruption, adding that "we are in a head-on collision with them".

Karamanlis said that the government would exhaust all its severity with respect to such public functionaries and on all illegal practices. "We will not back down in this clash," he said.

[02] Steps to boost Greek cuisine

Steps include increasing funding and simplifying procedures for businesses to join the subsidised programme EPAN.

The programme supports organisations in their efforts to promote, establish and protect Greek Traditional, regional or creative cuisine in order to make it an integral part of Greek tourism in general.

Within this context, the Hellenic Exports Promotion Organisation (OPE) will be participating in the same exhibits as the National Tourism Organisation (EOT) with its own pavilion, promoting Greek products, such as wine, mastic, olive oil and other food products.

[03] President Bush praises Greece's role in Balkans, Mideast as new Greek ambassador Mallias presents his credentials

Bush also expressed interest in the achievement of a Cyprus solution, as well as the achievement of a mutually acceptable agreement on the FYROM name issue.

He further stressed the "strategic bonds" between the two allies, stressing his "very good relations" with Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis and the "important role of the Greek Americans in the American society".

Also, the US president expressed gratitude for the Greek government's "immediate offer of assistance" for the victims of Hurricane Katrina that recently devastated New Orleans and surrounding areas.

The ceremony took place late Monday night at the White House.

In his reply, Mallias stressed the Greek people's sympathy with the victims of Katrina, and noted the assistance despatched by Greece for their relief.

He also noted the "close ties of friendship and alliance" between the two countries, which he said were reinforced by the presence of the dynamic Greek American community, and were "founded on the common values of democracy and liberty".

Greece, he continued, supported the efforts "for a just, functional and viable solution of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the EU's acquis communautaire", and stressed that Greece comprised "the important stabilising factor in the sensitive region of the Balkans".

"Athens would welcome an active backing by the US of the UN efforts and proposals for the achievement acceptable solution to the FYROM name issue, while it is also prepared to contribute to the ongoing efforts to transform the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean into a region of peace, social justice, freedom and cooperation," Ambassador Mallias added.

The new Greek envoy to the US further stressed that Athens placed great importance on its privileged partner status and strategic cooperation with the US, and pledged to focus his efforts on "advancing, broadening and deepening the unique bonds that unite the two countries and the two peoples".

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