Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-01-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Canadian minister - Parthenon marbles - statements

[02] Yugoslav president - visit to Greece

[01] Canadian minister - Parthenon marbles - statements

LONDON (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis) - Canadian Transport minister Steve Ashton, also the head of a Canadian committee campaigning for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, visited these historic monuments at the British Museum in London on Saturday, on the sidelines of an official visit to the UK.

In statements to reporters that covered the visit, Ashton said that he had visited the Acropolis the previous week and "understood that what we are trying to achieve as a committee in Canada is absolutely correct and fair."

The Canadian minister said that the return of the Marbles to Greece would act as recognition of all that Greece has offered the world and that the committee aimed to have them returned to the Parthenon before the Olympic Games in 2004.

"Objectivity is one of the traditions of the British people and I believe that this will help in returning to Greece the most important monuments of global civilisation," he said.

[02] Yugoslav president - visit to Greece

Federal Yugoslavia President Vojislav Kostunica will be arriving in Athens on Tuesday for his first official visit to Greece.

During his stay, Kostunica will be received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos at 11:00 a.m. and the two will give a joint press conference at 12:30 p.m.

Just before 1:00 p.m. the Yugoslav president will meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis at his office and the two will make statements at 1:45 p.m. A working dinner offered by the prime minister will follow.

At 3:20 p.m. on the same day, Kostunica will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, after which he will visit the Acropolis and the Athens Town Hall, where he will meet with Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

At 5:30 p.m., he will make his way to Parliament for a meeting with Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, followed by a meeting with main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis at 6:00 p.m., with Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos at 6:30 p.m. and with Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga at 7:00 p.m.

Finally, the Yugoslav president will attend an official dinner at the Presidential Mansion and is due to leave for Belgrade at 11:30 p.m.

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