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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-02-09Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM briefed on mass media issuesPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday was briefed by interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos and new Deputy Minister for media affairs Costas Gioulekas regarding various issues.Pavlopoulos told reporters afterwards that he and Gioulekas briefed the premier on the further course of restructuring and operation of the new Secretariat for Communication and Information, which landed under the interior ministry's jurisdiction following the recent government reshuffle, as well as on the agencies recently transferred to the interior ministry's authority. The incorporation will help the ministry to better deal with problems concerning its infrastructure and staffing, as well as better organisation and operation of the ministry, Pavlopoulos said. He added that priority would be placed on completion of the procedure concerning the licensing of the electronic media. The issue of pending regulatory acts and completion of a precise radio and television frequency band is also forthcoming following many years of delays, Pavlopoulos noted. He said cited an emphasis on better supporting the provincial press, which would be immediately undertaken by Gioulekas, noting that the role of the regional mass media was extremely important at a time when problems in the provinces needed to be underscored, and given the government's target of greater regional development. Gioulekas, in turn, said the focus would be on both the central and provincial press, adding that visits would be made to the provinces for meetings with representatives of the local media. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis [02] PASOK social policy com't meetingMain opposition PASOK president George Papandreou, speaking before the party's social policy committee meeting on Monday, underlined that "poverty and inequality being experienced today is of unprecedented magnitude". He also accused the government of lacking a policy aimed at boosting employment, claiming that the national health system is on the verge of collapse. Papandreou said a restructuring of the social state is a central issue, stressing that the key points should be: dignified living conditions, the right to work, measures against poverty, establishment of a viable social insurance system and affordable healthcare for the average household.[03] Papoulias received new Greek Football Federation presidentPresident of Republic Karolos Papoulias on Monday received the newly elected president of Greek Football Federation (EPO), Sophocles Pilavios, at the presidential mansion.In statements before the reporters, Papoulias told Pilavios that "the people expect a great deal of things from you, football without violence and a credible football championship. Moreover, you must also focus on amateur clubs." From his part, Pilavios stressed that he is aware of the problems and has already began working on solutions. [04] FinMin in Brussels for Eurogroup, ECOFIN meetingsEconomy and Finance minister Yiannis Papathanassiou left on Monday for Brussels, where he will represent Greece at the Eurogroup Conference later in the day and a meeting of the EU's Ecofin ministers on Tuesday.Ahead of the Eurogroup conference, Papathanassiou will have separate meetings with European Central Bank (ECB) president Jean-Claude Trichet and EU commissioner for the environment Stavros Dimas. [05] Greece featured in Chinese magazinesSpecial presentations over the recent period by a handful of Chinese publications promote Greece as a leading and secure global tourist destination, pointing out that despite last December's urban unrest in Athens, the country remains a very safe destination, combining high quality tourist services and good infrastructure. Special travel offers made available by Greek tour operators are also cited, described as particularly attractive amidst the ongoing global economic recession. A five-page spread in the February issue of Beauty and Travel Magazine underlines that despite whatever industrial actions, the east Mediterranean country remains a safe and affordable high-quality tourist destination. The sector magazine Wine in China dedicates 16 pages to the wines produced in northern Greece's Epirus and Macedonia provinces, including a presentation of townships with a tradition in wine-making. The tour begins in Epirus and continues to the historically renowned Pella district, to the Thessaloniki area and verdant Halkidiki prefecture. Thessaloniki is cited to as one of the safest Greek cities, endowed with a rich cultural tradition and numerous monuments. Shanghai Weekly, in a two-page article, describes Greece as a prime honeymoon and religious pilgrimage destination. The report highlights the excellent tourist infrastructure of several Aegean islands, suggesting as a must-see for Chinese visitors the islands of Santorini, Lesvos, Mykonos and Crete, as well as Mt. Athos, the all-male monastic community on a Halkidiki promontory. Finally, in the February issue of Bizmode magazine's Romantic Honeymoon Destinations section, Chinese couples planning to get married in the year of the Ox are exposed to a variety of Greek island destinations. Additionally, wedding ceremonies in Athens are detailed, with the magazine citing the fact that Athens is amongst the safest European cities, one that also combines great shopping with well-known archaeological sites and monuments.Caption: Scenes from the incomparable Temple of Poseidon atop Cape Sounion, in southeastern-most Attica prefecture. ANA/ V. KALALOUGAS. [06] Athens Stock Exchange : RiseEquity prices were rising on Monday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index up 0.35 percent, standing at 1,767.91 points at 14:15 p.m., and turnover at 43.9 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving mostly upward, with the biggest gains in Health, up 3.11 percent; Construction, up 2.52 percent; Raw Materials, up 2.16 percent and Food and Beverages, up 2.09 percent. The biggest losses were in Media, down 2.64 percent; Banks, down 0.66 percent; and Commerce, down 0.38 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 0.26 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 0.88 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.51 percent. Of the stocks moved, 112 were up, 67 were down, and 51 were unchanged. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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