Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-05-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM addresses cabinet meeting on country's energy strategy

[02] Talks for return of antiquities to Greece by Getty Museum

[01] PM addresses cabinet meeting on country's energy strategy

Karamanlis said that the government is vigilant but it is not concerned, stressing that "I wish, once again, to repeat that due to the upsurge in international oil prices we are vigilant but we are not concerned as to the targets we have set. And this is so because we have made realistic assessments. We are following developments, we are speeding up the implementation of our policy and we are intensifying checks in the market."

The prime minister referred to the issue of Iran, reiterating Greek positions on a peaceful solution to the crisis, while making a review of the course of international prices and stressing that the country depends greatly on oil.

"As it is known to all, for over two years now, an unprecedented upsurge in international oil prices is under way. It is obvious, and we had stressed this in time, that it is not a circumstantial phenomenon. Since January 2004 until today the international price of Brent oil has increased by 130 percent and the international price of oil by 145 percent. This development is pressuring European, western and developing economies. It has a negative effect on the global economy. On growth rates, the carrying out of state budgets, competitiveness and inflation. All these concern our country in particular since it has much greater dependence on oil compared to other European countries. The problem has taken on new dimensions following the case of Iran. A case for which we have crystal-clear positions. No to the use of nuclear weapons, yes to the seeking of a peaceful diplomatic solution," he said.

Karamanlis further said that the government followed an aggressive energy policy from the beginning and underlined the two basic directions followed.

"The first direction concerns the strengthening of the role of our country in international energy organisations and the promotion of major energy projects which render it an international energy corridor in the sectors of oil, natural gas and electricity," he said.

Karamanlis added that "the second direction of the new energy policy concerns the creation of a new modern institutional framework in the sector of electricity, natural gas, oil and, of course, clean forms of energy."

Lastly, the prime minister pointed out that "the time we were assuming the responsibility for the governance of the country, on the one hand the electric energy supply system had exhausted its limits and, on the other hand, major pending issues still remained regarding the preparation of the country in light of the Olympic Games. We faced, indeed, particularly at the beginning, considerable difficulties. However, we succeeded in doing well. And today we are at an advanced stage in the implementation of the New Energy Policy. Considerable changes and reforms have been promoted and new bills and new actions for the implementation of our plan are being forwarded. Our policy commitments are turning into practice."

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[02] Talks for return of antiquities to Greece by Getty Museum

The meeting was held at the ministry on Tuesday in the presence of Culture Minister George Voulgarakis and Getty Museum director Michael Brand.

According to a ministry announcement, "the saisfaction of the Greek side's requests will render possible a fruitful cooperation which will include long-term loans of works of art."

The Museum's representatives agreed to recommend to the Foundation's board the return of a part of the contested antiquities.

Voulgarakis also met at the ministry on Tuesday with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz with whom he discussed issues of mutual interest, with emphasis on the sector of culture.

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