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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-08Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM confers with transport/communications minister; OA's future citedPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday conferred with Transport and Communications Minister Costas Hatzidakis regarding major issues involving the telecoms sector in the country.Issues concerning public utilities were also on the table, according to Hatzidakis, stressing that consumers should be served in the best possible way, while the taxpayers' money should be respected. Regarding debt-ridden national carrier Olympic Airlines (OA), he said it is too soon for any discussion on the issue, considering that talks are underway with the European Commission, talks expected to last for some time due to the complexity of the matter. "On the government's part, everything possible will be done to keep the company alive until it is privatised," the minister, a long-time Euro-MP, said. In a related development, OA president Ilias Karatzalis submitted his resignation on Monday to Hatzidakis, which was accepted. A replacement is expected to be announced in the next few days. Regarding threats of a possible strike by fuel tanker owners, Hatzidakis expressed a hope that a settlement will soon be reached. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of PM Costas Karamanlis. [02] Papoulias briefed by FM on foreign policyGreek President Karolos Papoulias met with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Monday, who briefed him on the latest foreign policy developments following her meetings on the sidelines of the recent UN General Assembly, including the FYROM "name issue", Greek-Turkish relations and the European constitutional treaty issue. Regarding an upcoming meeting that Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos (Bartholomew) will have with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Bakoyannis referred to a positive development, expressing a wish that the meeting will be useful and constructive. Among others, Bakoyannis also commented on recent statements by UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, who in touching on one aspect of the "name issue" separating Athens and Skopje, expressed a more-or-less negative opinion of a venerated ancient figure, namely, Alexander the Great. "History has been written and is not being rewritten," she merely replied. Caption: President Karolos Papoulias (R) greets Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis at the presidential mansion in Athens on Monday, Oct. 8, 2007. ANA-MPA / M. KIAOU.[03] Transplant surgery on Christodoulos failsThe Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece's Holy Synod on Monday afternoon (local time) confirmed that a liver transplant operation on ailing Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos was not successful.The laconic announcement also cited comments by Christodoulos' attending physician, noted Miami transplant surgeon Andreas Jackis, who said the procedure was ruled out when surgeons ascertained that Christodoulos' liver cancer had metastasized to the peritoneal cavity, while further therapy will follow. Christodoulos underwent the surgery at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, beginning on Sunday afternoon. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Christodoulos. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |