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Monday, 23 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-16Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM confers with Merchant Marine MinisterPrime minister Costas Karamanlis met Wednesday Merchant Marine minister George Voulgarakis, who briefed him on the approval of the Piraeus and Thessaloniki Port Authorities' proclamations for international tenders granting concession rights to their container terminals to private concerns, aimed at enabling the country to become an international transports hub.Voulgarakis told reporters afterwards that this was a reform of exceptional importance that would put Greece at the centre, adding that results from the tender could be expected in approximately 50 days, and stressing that the rights of the employees were consolidated. The minister elaborated that the employees had absolutely nothing to lose, neither jobs nor labour rights. On the contrary, he continued, "we are talking about transfers, and voluntary exodus (early retirement), and participation of the workers in the added value through the concession of some stocks" to them. Voulgarakis said that "we are speaking of full ensurance of the workers, and at the same time of Greece's participation in the huge capital of international sea-borne transports". He said a decisive step has been taken so that Greece could finally structure a serious port industry and play the decisive role it deserved. Earlier Karamanlis was briefed by Agricultural Development minister Alexandros Kontos, on the programme for the development of infrastructures in the agricultural sector. Kontos told reporters after the meeting that this pertained to the second such program, budgeted at 6 billion euros, which is approved by the EU, by all the member countries. It's main targets are protection of the environment, exploitation of water resources, land redistribution, enhancement of the country's forests, and boosting the competitiveness of Greece's agricultural sector. Kontos said he further briefed Karamanlis on the recent policy decision in the EU for reform of the viticulture sector, which he added was deemed as "very positive" by representatives of the sector. He explained that the reform, which lays different foundations for the substantive development of the viticulture sector in Greece, would be the basis on which the government would draft a policy for supporting the Greek grape growers and wine-makers that would render the Greek wines much more competitive. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis [02] Children's art MuseumChildren's Art Museum in Xanthi The 4th World Biennale of Children's Painting, organized by the Academy of Children's Art, will be held for a fourth time in the city of Xanthi, northeastern Greece, next October. Already, roughly 350,000 children from 140 countries have taken part in the event launched in 2002 with tens of thousands of paintings, while the "Bridges of Love", another initiative undertaken by the Academy that focuses on doll construction by children, also met with an enthusiastic response. The heart and soul of the endeavor is Academy Chairwoman Lita Mavrogenis, a painter and member of UNESCO. The establishment of the Children's Art Museum "Ecumeni", temporarily housed in the old elementary school building in Sidini, 14 kilometers from Xanthi, was the result of her consistent efforts. Prize-winning paintings and handmade dolls created by children are on display in the museum that opened to the public in October, greeted with rave reviews. The museum also features painting and handicraft training programmes for children. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation has undertaken the construction of a new museum in the Petinos region to meet the rising needs, considering the large number of artworks on display.Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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