Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-07-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece dealing with Lebanon crisis 'seriously and calmly', PM tells cabinet

[01] Greece dealing with Lebanon crisis 'seriously and calmly', PM tells cabinet

Stressing that the events unfolding in Lebanon were an exceptionally sensitive issue that required delicate handling - especially given their proximity to Greece - Karamanlis also underlined Athens' quick response, pointing out that the Greek government had immediately mobilised to arrange for the evacuation of both Greeks and foreigners from the war zone.

Other issues covered during the cabinet meeting included tourism. According to Karamanlis, the sector's performance confirmed the correctness of the government's decision to set up the tourism development ministry, with a rise both in the numbers and the quality of tourists arriving since the Athens Olympic Games.

Tourism Development Minister Fani Palli-Petralia said that tourism in Greece was not affected by events in Lebanon, while she referred to the need to promote alternative types of tourism and to draft a long-term programme with a 15-year time frame.

The minister said the goals were to improve the quality of services provided by Greece and she also outlined targeted advertising campaigns in new markets, such as China, India and Russia.

Palli-Petralia said that the ministry was planning actions for holiday homes, new investments in tourism and the need to boost these from the 4th Community Support Framework funds and a pilot programme now underway for saturated tourist areas like the Iraklio peninsula on Crete.

She announced that a new land use plan for tourism being developed in collaboration with environment and land planning minister George Souflias would be completed by the end of the year and that absorption by the tourism development ministry had reached 46 percent, since projects worth �560 million were being implemented through the developmental law.

The Cabinet also approved recommendations made by Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras for the promotion of 14 top judicial officials.

The minister said the choices were based on merit and seniority and "moved in the direction of independent and irreproachable justice".

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