Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-06-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou address conf' on climate change

[01] Papandreou address conf' on climate change

Papandreou said that some countries are hesitant ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in December in Copenhagen, which stems, as he said, from the belief that drastic policies for combating climate change are counter to development. "The fact is, however, that inertia on the effects of climate change will delay development" adding that policies to confront the climate change must be rendered into the tools for overcoming the economic crisis.

Referring to Greece, Papandreou said that the country could become a leader in, and a model of green growth. "I want Greece to play a major role, focusing especially on Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea countries," he said, and criticised the government.

Papandreou said that that he would expect the government to explain its positions and the negotiation documents it has, ahead of the Copenhagen conference, but, "unfortunately they are absent today".

The PASOK leader stressed that further studies on the environment are unnecessary. "What is needed is the political volition for an environmental, economic and social agreement with our social partners in order to move forward," he said.

"As President of Socialist International (SI) and the leader of PASOK, I have the volition to formulate, jointly with our social partners, an environmental pact for green growth," concluded Papandreou.

The two-day conference, which wound up on Wednesday, was jointly organised by the 'Foundation for the Child and Family' and the international body The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with the World Sustainable Development Forum (WSDF), under the aegis of UNESCO.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou

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