Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-04-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU Commissioner Piebalgs praises Greece's growing diversification in energy sector

[02] FM's interview: 'Politicians have no gender'

[03] Campaign for return of Famagusta

[04] Sunken cruiseship's 'black box' retrieved

[01] EU Commissioner Piebalgs praises Greece's growing diversification in energy sector

Earlier, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis received the EU Commissioner at his official office for a meeting.

In statements to reporters, Piebalgs underlined the progress made in the deregulation of the country's domestic electricity market, while he also referred an ongoing emphasis on renewable sources of energy (RES) and Greece's growing international energy links, stressing that the Greek government has taken all necessary measures to face the risk of drought and its consequences on power production.

Regarding a natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey with Greece, the EU Commissioner called it an important project for Europe, saying he has accepted an invitation to attend an inauguration ceremony in July.

Referring to a natural gas pipeline project expected to connect Greece with Italy, an extension of the network from Turkey, the Latvian Commissioner pointed squarely to a Commission position for diversifying energy sources.

"Europe must be supplied with natural gas from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, and in the future, from Iran," he said.

Regarding the recently sealed Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, he commented that it will facilitate the transport of oil from the Caspian Sea region to the European Union.

Piebalgs also expressed optimism over a goal for RES to reach a 20-percent share of Greece's energy balance by 2020.

On his part, Sioufas stressed that Greece will meet the RES 20-percent goal before 2020, adding that power production capacity of RES plants has doubled over the past three years, while the prediction for 2007 is expected to exceed the 1,100MW-mark.

Sioufas underlined that investments in the sector of energy will reach 4.5 billion euros in 2007-2010, and referred to the interest expressed by international firms to participate in a tender underway for the construction of the first privately owned power station in the country.

He also presented initiatives made to save energy in the public and private sector, whereas regarding Burgas-Alexandroupolis, he mentioned that an effort is being made to begin construction projects in 2008.

Caption: Greece's prime minister Costas Karamanlis (l) with EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs (ANA-MPA)

[02] FM's interview: 'Politicians have no gender'

The introduction to the interview noted that Bakoyannis, in her 18-year-long political career, has served as minister of culture, and as Mayor of Athens, before taking on the helm of the foreign ministry. It said that no one has disputed her abilities throughout her career in the murky waters of international diplomacy, where she displayed a durability and stability that many would envy. she cultivated friendships with almost all her colleagues while, in the EU's council of ministers -- in which there are only five women out of 27 foreign ministers -- Bakoyannis has stood out, the article said.

"Did you at the beginning feel any awkwardness? Is it really hard to be a woman when you have political authority," journalist Antonio Ferrari asked in his opening question, to receive the reply from Bakoyannis that "No. Perhaps in the past it was like that, but today things have changed. Besides, I have always been of the conviction that politicians, like angels, have no gender".

Noting that in Italy much is being discussed about a quota (minimum number) of women in key positions in public life, Bakoyannis was asked whether things were better in Greece. The foreign minister replied that "we have made steps in that direction, but I am not satisfied, they are not enough".

"A woman, in a very complex and complicated world, can bring greater sensitivity and a big dose of insight as her dowry. Look at (chancellor) Angela Merkel in Germany, an excellent leader and an example for all," Bakoyannis said.

Asked to comment on Hilary Clinton's ambitions to win the Democratic Party's nomination for US President and the prospect of her choosing Barak Obama as her vice-president, introducing the new element of 'woman-black man' for the US leadership, Bakoyannis said that although she, personally, had a deep respect for Hilary Clinton "who is cautious, determined, capable of tackling problems", nevertheless "I don't believe that gender or color will play a decisive role. I believe that every goal is achieved, above all, with ability".

Asked to clarify what she meant by 'ability', Bakoyannis replied: "Ability of vision. My generation dreamed of imagination in authority. I don't therefore, believe that only good and capable technocrats are sufficient. Vision is needed".

To a question on how many Greeks acknowledged that she had the ability of vision, for example, given her encouragement of Turkey's EU course, Bakoyannis explained: "My 'yes' (to Turkey's eventual EU membership) is conditional. I don't believe that the problem lies in the fact that Turkey is a large Muslim country. I consider the crucial point to be Turkey's sharing of the common principles and values. When, in 10, 15 or 20 years' time Turkey will have made all the necessary steps, there will be no problems in its becoming accepted into the great European family. Finally, the reforms process (in Turkey) has slowed down. But, we all have the duty to encourage Ankara to proceed more quickly and more decisively".

With respect to Turkey, and asked to assess the positions of French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, which differed from her own, and whether therefore she preferred Segolene Royal, Bakoyannis replied that "Sarkozy is a friend. Every time we meet we discuss, and have a lively discussion in fact, on Turkey. He remains firm in his positions, and I in mine, in the framework of mutual respect".

To a related question regarding Italy, Bakoyannis said: "With Italy, we agree on many things. With Massimo D'Alema (Italian foreign minister) we have undertaken commitments and initiatives on many fronts. Let me mention the European Constitution, Kosovo, and naturally all the problems of the Middle East. We must find the way to ease the excessive tensions, which are rampant in that region. I believe, for example, that the Palestinian national unity government must be encouraged".

To a comment that the European Union was still weak and divided to exercise a credible political influence, Bakoyannis said that she was "enraged by this ongoing incantation of the European Union's weakness, of what it is not in a position to do".

"I would like us to speak more about what the European Union has done. I believe that the Union has a looser approach on the issues. This is not weakeness, it is an advantage. The US are more decisive. Together with the US, we can achieve significant results," she said.

Asked whether a strong Europe caused fear, Baklyannis said "it certainly causes worry".

To a question on whether politicians' appearances on the electronic media was excessive, and given that "in Italy, there are three such communications channels: parliament, senate and tv talk shows", Bakoyannis responded: "The latter are more vivid. If I need to speak to the Greeks, television allows me to approach them directly. Perhaps there is some excess with appearance in the media. In the future, there will inevitably be corrective measures. But for the time being, things are fine".

[03] Campaign for return of Famagusta

The assurance was made by Kaklamanis during the commencement of the Famagusta Municipality's campaign for the signing of a Declaration demanding the return of the Turkish-occupied town to its lawful residents.

Kaklamanis and Famagusta Mayor Alexis Galanos placed the first two signatures on the Declaration for the return of Famagusta.

The commencement of the campaign and signature ceremony took place at the Famagusta Cultural Centre in Derynia, which is situated at the foot of the occupied town.

Addressing the event, Kaklamanis said he conveyed the solidarity and support of the citizens of Athens "who wish to unite their forces and voice with yours in the struggle to vie the town of Famagusta life once again".

"Many call Famagusta, due to its abandonment for 33 years, as a 'ghost town'," Kaklamanis noted, adding, however, that "personally, I prefer to see it as a visition-town, a destination-town, a symbol-town...I prefer to see it as the 'Ithaca' of our struggles and demands for the integration of Cyprus".

Galanos, in turn, stressed that in order for Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU to move on to new chapters, the 'chapter' of Famagusta's return to its rightful inhabitants must be first settled.

The campaign for the Famagusta refugees' signatures to the Declaration for the return of the town, under the slogan "Give your town a voice", will run through April 22.

Kaklamanis further said that no plan for a Cyprus solution could succeed so long as occupation troops remained on the island republic, adding that "I, today, put forward again the demand of all the free people that the occupation force leaves" Cyprus.

[04] Sunken cruiseship's 'black box' retrieved

The cruiseship sank into the deep waters of the scenic Caldera -- an underwater depression created by a massic volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago -- just off the popular Aegean holiday island of Santorini last week after it struck a reef.

The 'black box' was located by a deep-sea robot craft on Friday on the bridge of the sunken cruiseship, but the robot was unable to retrieve the data recorder due to difficulties posed by the formation of the sea bed and the wreck's condition, and a professional diver was called in after more than four failed attempts by the robot.

The black box's contents -- a recording of all data particularly during the ship's collision with a charted reef -- will be examined by prosecutors with the assistance of an expert and representatives of the Cyprus-based shipowner and its insurance companies.

Two passengers out of the roughly 1,500 people on board -- a French man and his daughter -- went missing after the boat sank and are still unaccounted for.

Experts said data on the recorder will shed ample light on the causes of the accident and will be turned over the investigating authorities as evidence. The 'black box' - actually painted a bright orange so that it can be easily located - will have recorded everything from the time of the impact, including the towing and eventual sinking of the ship.

Efforts to recover the data recorder were chiefly conducted with the two robot craft supplied by the Greek Centre for Marine Research, which are equipped with electronic arms.

Meanwhile, the Naxos public prosecutor in charge of the investigation into the shipwreck has asked to be given access to the records for mobile phones owned by the skipper of the 'Sea Diamond' and company representatives that spoke with him around the time of the accident.

In a related development, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos congratulated the merchant marine ministry on its handling of the "Sea Diamond" maritime accident, in a letter sent to Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis on Friday.

According to a ministry announcement, Mitropoulos praises the ministry and noted that the rescue of so many passengers and crew confirms the high efficiency of the ministry's search-and-rescue services, as well as the support provided by local seafarers.

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