Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] National interests at the heart of Greek foreign policy

[02] Gov't announces plan to build a new airport in Heraclion

[01] National interests at the heart of Greek foreign policy

Molyviatis added that "we protect and service them (the country's national interests) with prudence and sobriey, but also with unsahakeable determination".

"We will not never allow the falsification of our country's rights and interests," the foreign minister added, while Papoulias told the new diplomats: "do not forget our country's need that you servie it with patriotism and devotion".

Molyviatis explained that the foundationsof Greece's foreign policy were "respect of international law, the international treaties, and international lawful order".

"Our firm goal is peace, security, stability, friendship and cooperation with all the countries of the world, and particularly with the neighbouring countries. We extend our friendship and cooperation to all those who respond to this policy of ours," the minister said.

The backbone of Greek foreign policy was the European Union, Molyviatis said, adding that "we want a Europe that is united, not only economically and monetarily, but also in the political and defence areas".

"However," he continued, "this does not hinder us at all from maintaining excellent relations with all the countries of the world, particularly with the US, Russia, Japan, China, and the countries of the Balkans and the Middle East."

Both the foreign minister and the President underlined the complexity of modern-day diplomacy, while Molyviatis noted that "there are manyforms of diplomacy", and cited "multilateral diplomacy, parliamentary, cultural and, perhaps above all, economic diplomacy".

Papoulias expounded on the improtance of economic diplomacy, and called on the new diplomats to "open up the roads of the Greek national economy" while, with respect to cultural diplomacy, he cited as an example the cultural cooperation with Italy, which he visited recently.

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[02] Gov't announces plan to build a new airport in Heraclion

The plan, budgetted at around 1.1 billion euros, is expected to be completed in 8-10 years. The new airport at Kasteli, will be build in joint venture with private companies and will contribute effectively in the developing of the region of the country's economy in general, Liapis said.

The two ministers visited the "N.Kazantzakis" airport in Heraclion and were briefed by airport authorities over the problems facing the airport. Later on they visited the site of the new airport in Kasteli.

Speaking to reporters, Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis said the project would substantially contribute in the economic growth of Crete.

Liapis said the government was creating the necessary environment to attract new investments and to create new job positions in the region. "I have already ordered the Civil Aviation Agency to proceed with all preparatory actions for drafting a survey on the project," he told reporters.

The Greek minister said the ministry has earmarked 2.1 billion euros for projects to upgrade and modernise the country's regional airports. Liapis said the new airport in Heraclion Crete would have a runway with a length of 3 km, a two-direction ILS, parking slots for 44 aircraft and a terminal able to service 5,000 passengers in peak times.

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