Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-10-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Med Initiative 'unprecedented in its ambition'

[02] Greece and Morocco sign bilateral agreements on tax, industry issues

[03] Droutsas in Israel

[04] Archaeologists strike Thursday

[05] Stocks 0.47 pct up

[01] PM: Med Initiative 'unprecedented in its ambition'

The Mediterranean has been identified by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as being especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Many of these impacts (increased risk of drought, longer fire season, reduction in crop productivity) are common across the region, yet few Mediterranean countries have robust adaptation plans. Through the MCCI, regional leaders hope that a unified Mediterranean voice can advance climate change discussions on a global level, protect the fragile Mediterranean ecosystem, and promote a 'green economic boost' through the sharing of best practices in low carbon development.

"This initiative is unprecedented in its ambition," said Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou ahead of the event. "Mediterranean leaders have shown the collective will and capacity to take a lead in the global climate change debate. It is time we come together with a common voice to address our common challenge." On the economic benefits from the initiative, Papandreou noted, "Green development will provide tremendous growth opportunities and has the potential to create much-needed jobs and new areas of competitive advantage for our region."

Papandreou will be joined by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi of Malta, and Prime Minister Salam Fayad of the Palestinian Authority. The Prime Ministers will take part in a keynote debate alongside President Philippe Maystadt of the European Investment Bank. The panel will be hosted by Columbia University Professor and Director of the Earth Institute, Jeffrey Sachs. The day will also feature a roundtable discussion with ministerial level officials responsible for environmental policy from more than nine countries.

The event will be hosted by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change. Sponsorship has been provided by TT Hellenic Postbank.

The event will be followed on Saturday, October 23, by the first Mediterranean Green Development Investors Forum (Med GDIF), organised by the European Investment Bank and the Institute for Climate and Energy Security (i4cense) and held under the auspices of the Office of the Greek Prime Minister. The subject of the forum is "Financing profitable green initiatives and investments across the Mediterranean." The Greek Prime Minister will provide a keynote address.

For more information, please visit www.medclimatechangeinitiative.org

For media inquiries, please contact internationalmedia@primeminister.gr

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[02] Greece and Morocco sign bilateral agreements on tax, industry issues

"We believe in Greece's ability for growth, we believe in its business people and its investors in spite of the economic crisis," Mazouz said in statements afterward. The best way to celebrate a half-century of excellent diplomatic relations was to raise economic relations to the same level, the Moroccan minister added.

Kouvelis noted that the agreements signed open the way for broader economic cooperation in this period of crisis.

The two agreements were the result of the 7th Mixed Ministerial Committee co-chaired by Mazouz and Kouvelis in Athens on Monday, during which the two sides identified many potential areas of cooperation in renewable energy sources, high-quality farm products, Mediterranean diet, fish farming and tourism, especially the Mediterranean cruise market.

Mazouz announced the launch of a new business council at the start of 2011 with the participation of Greek and Moroccan business people and promised that the two governments "will constantly strengthen the legal framework".

Earlier, Mazouz held a meeting with Greek Environment, Energy and Climate Change Tina Birbili and discussed ways to further develop cooperation on energy, with emphasis on renewable energy sources and energy conservation. The two sides are now working on a draft MoU that will define the framework of cooperation on these issues.

As members of the Union of the Mediterranean, the two countries agreed on the need to create a unified and interconnected energy market in the general region of the European Union and all Mediterranean countries. In this framework they are promoting a 'Solar Plan Initiative'. They also planned their cooperation at the upcoming Greek-Moroccan forum to be held at the start of 2011 with a focus on the energy sector.

The two ministers both expressed the opinion that the negative repercussions of climate change can be dealt with through the use of RES and green development in general, adding that this is a strategic energy policy priority for both countries.

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[03] Droutsas in Israel

In the meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu they agreed on a joint ministerial, the composition of which will depend on the bilateral cooperation under discussion.

In the contacts he had with PM Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Tzipi Livni (leader of Kadima party) they discussed the Middle East issue and the prospects of the peace process.

The talks with his counterpart focused on the upgrading of bilateral relations and the Middle East issue. They also signed an agreement that opens the charter flight market from and to Israel and Greece.

They agreed to promote journalist exchange missions and diplomatic academy cooperation.

As regards the Middle East issue, Droutsas stated that "we are not here to impose a solution on anyone" and discussed with his counterpart the web of relations that is being woven between Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Israel and Turkey.

He also briefed the Israeli foreign minister on the fYRoM name issue and discussed the problem of illegal migration with which both Greece and Israel are faced.

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[04] Archaeologists strike Thursday

The statement issued underlined that the Archaeological Service is being systematically undermined by being understaffed and underfinanced.

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[05] Stocks 0.47 pct up

Ellaktor (7.38 pct), Mytilineos (4.0 pct), PPC (2.04 pct) and Cocal-Cola (1.44 pct) were top gainers among blue chips, while Apha Bank (1.17 pct), Eurobank (1.26 pct) and Cyprus (0.25 pct) were top losers.

The Big Cap index rose 0.27 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 0.42 pct higher and the Small Cap index fell 0.63 pct. The Commerce (2.61 pct) and Raw Materials (2.62 pct) sectors scored gains, while Media (2.18 pct) and Insurance (1.54 pct) suffered losses.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 80 to 67 with another 56 issues unchanged. Varvaressos (16.67 pct), FHL Kyriakidis (10 pct) and Vivere (8.89 pct) were top gainers, while Druckfarben (19.12 pct), Ridenco (11.11 pct) and Ikona-Ihos (11.11 pct) were top losers.

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