Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-06-08

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Supreme Court action sought over jellyfish infestation in Corinthian Gulf

[02] Defence minister, U.S. ambassador mark 70th anniversary of defence cooperation office

[01] Supreme Court action sought over jellyfish infestation in Corinthian Gulf

Among others, he cited reports made by local fishermen that "last week in the Aegean, fishing boats fished 85 tonnes of fish in a single night and another 45 tonnes in a second run, while it was not possible to find them."

According to his report, such overfishing has led to a degradation of the environment and the absence of predators has resulted in a sharp increase in the area's population of jellyfish, which now move freely throughout the Gulf. Stamatis asked for the court's immediate intervention and an investigation by justice to stop the ecological destruction.

The complaint was filed in the wake of press reports saying that the jellyfish population in the Corinthian Gulf has spiked.

[02] Defence minister, U.S. ambassador mark 70th anniversary of defence cooperation office

"Greece looks forward to deepening ties with the US and building further ties, not just between the two governments but also between the business communities of our two countries, hoping to strengthen existing relations," Kammenos said in his speech at the event.

The minister also asked for U.S. support in "providing relief" to the country no just for its economy but for "the security of the region".

"We need the help of the united States to extend our Navy capabilities so that it can operate from Crete to Suez to stop the financing of terrorism through the illicit trafficking of drugs, arms and illegal oil," he added.

Kammenos also expressed optimism that the two countries will soon sign a multiannual defence cooperation agreement.

"Souda served us during the Cold War and continues today to support our operations in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, North Africa," the Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Ray, said, and called on Greece to continue to play its leading role in ensuring security in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.

Ambassador Pyatt said Greece supports U.S. operations in the wider region particularly through the base in Souda Bay in Crete, which provides a strategic advantage and an ability to tackle challenges with flexibility and effectiveness in the wider region.

At the same time, he welcomed the fact that Greece is contributing military forces to NATO' Kosovo force and that the country is meeting its NATO defence spending requirements of 2 percent of GDP annually, as well as assisting US and NATO forces.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article