Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-06-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU's energy challenges dominate Ministers' Council

[02] Eleven arrested over massive drug haul to testify next week

[01] EU's energy challenges dominate Ministers' Council

A political agreement was reached on the so-called ILUC (indirect land-use change) for the sustainable development of biofuels in the future, while the important role of infrastructure projects of common interest PCIs, that help member states to physically integrate their energy markets, was confirmed, as well as the need to accelerate certain projects to ensure energy security.

After the council meeting, minister Maniatis said in a press conference that a consensus was reached on energy efficiency, while the council's conclusions on energy prices and energy cost, the protection of vulnerable consumers and energy industry competitiveness were unanimously approved.

Maniatis noted that "the conclusions reached constitute a very important and timely political message and an EU pledge toward the gradual establishment of a less costly and more competitive energy sector in a period when the economic crisis has not completed its cycle yet, when energy competitiveness intensifies on global level and European citizens, mainly the households and the most vulnerable consumers, as well as, SMEs and energy-intensive enterprises, continue to suffer as a result of high electricity and natural gas rates."

[02] Eleven arrested over massive drug haul to testify next week

The 1,133.420 kilos of heroin, packed in a total of 443 plastic parcels, were stored in two batches of about 500 kilos each - one in a warehouse in Koropi and another in Filothei, at the house of a shipowner who allegedly owns four oil tankers in Dubai. The value of the drug is estimated at around 30 million euros, if sold unadulterated.

Of those arrested and being held at the Central Port Authority detention centre in Piraeus, six are Greek and five are Turkish nationals. According to unofficial sources, the Greeks arrested include the shipowner, his wife, and their underage son. The Greek nationals will testify on Tuesday and the Turkish ones on Wednesday. None of them were named because the operation is still under way, the Coast Guard said.

The breakup of the drug ring came after a major coordinated sweep involving the Greek Police, the Greek Coast Guard, the Financial Crimes unit of the Finance ministry and the United States' Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and was made public at a press conference by the Coast Guard on Friday.

Those arrested were read charges on violation of the law on drugs, the creation of a criminal organisation, drug trafficking, and other charges that include illegal possession of weapons.

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