Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Overview of Hellenic Aid's accomplishments

[01] Overview of Hellenic Aid's accomplishments

"During the past year, our country as a member of the [UN] Security Council and as a representative of a timeless civilisation that respects human values, was distinguished for solidarity initiatives it took towards developing countries and was recognised by the international community as an international humane force," Stylianidis said.

"We were active in 46 countries, implementing - together with specialised NGOs - programs, which target practically all the Millennium Goals," he added.

Yiorgos Pandremenos, a foreign ministry expert and close collaborator of Stylianidis on development issues, stressed that one of the agency's future goals is to provide humanitarian and development aid more effectively.

To this end, Hellenic Aid is working with more experienced countries and international organisations.

It is within this context, that the agency recently signed an agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Pandremenos also said that Hellenic Aid wishes to become active in sectors other than health and education, such as economic sectors of developing countries, so that Greece can play a role in helping these countries' economic development.

Katerina Koutrakou, head of the agency's emergency humanitarian assistance department, referred to Greece's humanitarian aid activities both in cases of natural disasters and armed conflicts, as well as to continuous aid activities to certain developing countries.

Greece's development cooperation and aid on an international level "must become a diplomatic tool even in the case of normalising relations with neighbouring countries," ruling New Democracy MP and head of the party's Foreign Affairs division said.

He added that cooperation in development and humanitarian aid can contribute to stability and peace in the entire region.

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