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

[02] Greece to attend Rome conference on Mideast

[03] EU Commissioner Kyprianou visits Mt. Athos

[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".

[02] Greece to attend Rome conference on Mideast

Cyprus, which has served as the transit gate for foreign nationals fleeing the war zone, will also attend the conference.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Bakoyannis said that the aim was to take decisions at Wednesday's conference on facilitating the provision of humanitarian aid to all the refugees.

She added that Greece remained firm in its proposals for lasting peace in the region.

Replying to a question on whether the US was seeking that aid be forthcoming to only a section of Lebanon, Bakoyannis stressed: "There are no children of a lesser God, nor women and families to be singled out".

She impressed the fact that all the citizens of Lebanon must be assisted, stressing that the Greek people were particularly sensitive on this matter.

To another question on whether Greece would participate in a prospective peacekeeping force in the area, Bakoyannis explained that it was too early to discuss such a prospect, stressing that all would depend on what the role of such a force would be.

"No serious proposal has been forthcoming as yet," she said.

Bakoyannis further stressed that EU coordination was needed for the provision of humanitarian assistance, so that the same supplies are not sent by all the contributing sides, and for better distribution of the aid, after the safety of the humanitarian missions and consignments was secured.

[03] EU Commissioner Kyprianou visits Mt. Athos

Kyprianou attended mass at Protato and conferred with Father superior Barnabas.

Responding to the Commissioner�s remark that Mt. Athos displays a remarkable capacity in absorbing European Union funds, Father Barnabas stated that ?this happens because we know exactly what we want, what restorations need to be done, what projects are necessary and where?.

?On the other hand, here one euro equals two and money is managed prudently?, said Father Barnabas referring to the high cost of the works done on Mt. Athos due to the fact that workers and building materials have to come from outside the monastic community.

Commissioner Kyprianou expressed satisfaction for the quick pace observed in the materialization of the projects.

This is the first time a European Commissioner from the Barroso Commission visits Mt. Athos. Kyprianou will spend the night at the Monastery of Vatopedi, and on Wednesday he will visit the Monastery of Dionysiou, while on Thursday he is scheduled to tour Thessaloniki and Veria.

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