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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-06-20Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Karamanlis inaugurates new education ministry buildingPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday reiterated his policy mantra that "education is the most profitable investment", during the inauguration of the education ministry building in the northern district of Maroussi, a short distance away from the Athens Olympic Stadium.Karamanlis noted that the ministry was entering a new era, adding that this was the first step in planning for a decentralisation of public services. Karamanlis described the ministry as the "new headquarters of educational reform", addressing a ceremony attended by the ministry's leadership, other ministers, representatives of opposition parties and ministry staff. "In an era of major challenges and opportunities, investment in education is the most profitable investment that a society can make," Karamanlis said, adding that this required responsibility and seriousness, and deep-rooted reforms. Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou said the new building, covering 38,000 square metres, was constructed in accordance with the latest building technologies, while she thanked the prime minister for proving, in practice, that "education is the primary choice". Yiannakou also announced that two events halls at the new ministry premises would be named after female personalities, namely, French scholar and Hellenist Jacqueline De Romilly, and the other in honor of Greek author and academic Galatia Sarandi. "Our work is directed to the children. We are the means," Yiannakou said and, addressing the ministry's staff. A benediction of the building was officiated by Father Thomas Synodinos, the coadjutor of the Church of Greece, who represented hospitalised Archbishop Christodoulos. The former conveyed the Archbishop's blessings and called the new ministry premises a "sacred shrine of education". After the ceremony, Yiannakou escorted the prime minister on a tour of the new ministry premises. Caption: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis (R) with Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou on Wednesday, June 20, 2007. ANA-MPA / G. ANTONIOU. [02] Greece braces for heat waveGreece's civil defense and emergency services were placed on high alert as of Wednesday as the season's first heat wave forecast for the coming days, while municipalities around the east Mediterranean country will open air-conditioned facilities around the clock to residents.A civil defense coordinating council, in fact, met on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos to implement measures ahead of temperatures expected to reach or exceed 40C. One forecast calls for a maximum day-time temperature of up to 43C in the Thessaly plain, central Greece, on Saturday. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo / V. VARDOULAKIS. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |