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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-12Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Athens celebrates 63rd anniversay of city's liberation in WWIIA customary flag-raising ceremony was again held atop the Acropolis in downtown Athens on Friday to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Greek capital's liberation from Nazi occupation forces during the Second World War.Speaking during the ceremony, Interior & Public Administration Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos stressed that anniversary of Oct. 12, 1944 conveys a timeless message and was a landmark for the vindication of the selfless struggle for freedom and democracy, as well as a day-to-pay tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for this cause. Referring to the present day, Pavlopoulos said risks posed for human rights and democratic institutions have not only multiplied but had "mutated", becoming harder to detect and inflicting more critical blows. Greece entered WWII on Oct. 28, 1940 on the side of the Allies. Caption: Hundreds of Athenians look on as members (R) of an elite presidential honor guard, better known as Evzones, stand at attention during a flag-raising ceremony on the Acropolis on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007, which commemorated the 63rd anniversary of the liberation of Athens from German occupation forces during World War II. ANA-MPA / G. ANTONIOU [02] PM confers with Parliament presidentPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday met with Parliament president Dimitris Sioufas, with the latter later noting that Parliament procedural issues were discussed, whereas he also briefed the premier on legislative agenda for next week. Karamanlis later conferred with ruling New Democracy (ND) party's Parliamentary group secretary, Yiannis Tragakis. In comments afterwards, Tragakis said the meeting, held within the framework of his regular contacts with the prime minister, focused on issues pertaining to the Parliamentary group's operation. Caption: A file photo dated March 28, 2007 shows Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis conferring in Parliament with Dimitris Sioufas, who served as development minister in the previous Karamanlis government. ANA-MPA / K. MAVRONA[03] FinMin cites exceptional level of Greek-Bulgarian tiesEconomy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis on Friday described his official visit to Bulgaria as very successful, following meetings here with Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanisev and the ministers of Economy and Energy and Regional Development and Transport.Alogoskoufis said he felt honoured to be received by the Bulgarian premier and described relations between the two neighbours and allies as exceptional, on both the political and economic level. He also underlined that bilateral relations could become the key to the development of the wider region in coming years, while these relations were evidence of how two EU member-states could work closely together. "We discussed our relations, cross-border cooperation and the economic conditions in the two countries. Bulgaria has made several major steps forward, posting a 5 percent of GDP budget surplus. Of course, much more is need to be done, but cooperation with Greece will help in a continuous improvement," Alogoskoufis said. He added that Greece was amongst the top investors in Bulgaria Caption: Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanisev (L) greets visiting Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis in Sofia on Oct. 12, 2007. ANA-MPA / N. APOSTOLOPOULOS [04] Leftist leader slams gov't eco policyRadical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) head Alekos Alavanos again lashed out at the government's environmental policy during a meeting he had on Friday with residents in the Astakos municipality of Aitoloakarnania prefecture, in western Greece.A group of local residents are opposed to the planned construction of private power facilities in the region of Platigiali. Alavanos charged that envisioned private plants aim to use coal, while state-run Public Power Corp.'s (PPC) main plants continue to use lignite. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Alavanos. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |