Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-11-16

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou addresses PASOK National Council

[02] Greek culture minister supports European agenda

[03] Voulgarakis meets UN delegation for refugees

[01] Papandreou addresses PASOK National Council

Moreover, the National Council will be turned into a Central Organising Committee, but the most substantive role will be played by the Organising Committee's Secretariat that will have the exclusive responsibility of preparing the congress, whose aim will be the party's political revival.

Papandreou said that the Secretariat will be manned by "persons who have the inclination, the energy, the contact with new approaches and conceptions, the distance from power and greater contact with the new world."

ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou.

[02] Greek culture minister supports European agenda

In an announcement issued after the meeting, Liapis stressed that culture should be among the priorities of the European Union and be the object of a coordinated and joint policy by the 27 EU member-states.

Among proposals made by the Greek minister was creating a digital record of cultural assets and setting up a European communications network to promote cooperation and exchange of best practices, while he also highlighted the "economy of culture" and stressed the need to EU financial support small and middle-sized bodies engaging in cultural activities and were important in local communities.

Liapis additionally stressed the need to include training in the arts and culture at all levels of education and to promote vocational training courses for culture-sector professionals, in order to improve the human resources that would help culture and the artistic sector develop further.

A final reference was to the construction and operation of the New Acropolis Museum in Athens, which will henceforth house the antiquities from the Parthenon and other Acropolis monuments, with Liapis stressing that this form part of the framework for promoting European Cultural Heritage and inviting his counterparts to visit the Museum in the coming months.

On the sidelines of the ministers' meeting, he met his French counterpart Christine Albanel to discuss the European Heritage Label and other issues.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis.

[03] Voulgarakis meets UN delegation for refugees

The excellent cooperation existing between the High Commission and the ministry was confirmed once again.

According to a relevant announcement, the two sides referred to cooperation at aliens' points of entry, training for Harbour Corps staff and cooperation in the framework of implementing European programmes on managing immigration waves, with regard to detecting cases requiring protection.

Lastly, the merchant marine ministry accepted to jointly organise a conference of experts on sea rescue and cases of stowaways requesting asylum, that is expected to take place in January 2008.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy Minister George Voulgarakis.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article