Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-03-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek FM condemns military operation, terrorist acts in Mideast

[02] Bakoyianni named as ND's candidate for Athens

[03] Two-day conference on children's rights begins in Athens

[01] Greek FM condemns military operation, terrorist acts in Mideast

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Friday called latest Mideast developments ?tragic?, while condemning both the military operations and terrorist attacks in the wake of a massive military assault by Israel against the Palestinian Authority areas.

Papandreou added that it was imperative for the entire international community, the UN, the EU and the United States to increase their involvement towards achieving peace, while stressing that violence and military operations cannot bring about desired results.

Moreover, the Greek FM noted that proposals officially tabled at this past weeks Arab Summit in Beirut should be exploited, especially a widely publicised Saudi peace plan. Papandreou said other proposals -- touching on security concerns, a cease-fire and even a final resolution to the matter could also be implemented if necessary political will existed.

Papandreou underlined that Israels own security is related to Palestinians security, a development tied to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that is recognised by all.

[02] Bakoyianni named as ND's candidate for Athens

The main opposition on Friday named high-ranking deputy and former minister Dora Bakoyianni as its candidate in the Athens mayoral race, with New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis himself making the announcement befor the party's Parliamentary group.

Commenting on the choice, Karamanlis said ND wanted a first-class candidate for this election battle, while describing Bakoyianni as a valuable member of the party. Through the choice, he added, ND was acting as a future government that wanted to raise the profile of local government and boost preparations for the Olympic Games in 2004, which he said would be conducted with a New Democracy government in power.

[03] Two-day conference on children's rights begins in Athens

A two-day conference organized by Amnesty International and focusing on the protection of children's rights began in Zappeion Hall on Friday.

The conference, also sponsored by the Athens News Agency, entitled ''Protection of children's rights: Absolute obligation - Unique prospect'', focused on the exploitation of children throughout the world.

''From Jakarta and New Delhi to Buenos Aires and New York a new market has been created, the 'market of shame', in which 250 million children serve in conditions of slavery and controlled by mechanisms of slave-traders,'' UNICEF Greek chapter President Lambros Kanelopoulos said, opening the conference.

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