Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-02-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek European Commissioner hails entry into force of Kyoto Protocol as a 'historic day'

[02] BSEC conference to be held in Athens

[03] Tourism minister carries out official visit to Bahrain and Qatar

[04] Deutsche BA submits non-binding bid for Olympic Airlines

[01] Greek European Commissioner hails entry into force of Kyoto Protocol as a 'historic day'

He said the EU had been led the process of negotiating, signing and ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, which he described as a only first step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dealing with the urgent and major problem of climate change.

In comment on global warming, Dimas said that the temperature of the Earth had increased by 0.6 centigrade in the past century and by 1 degree centigrade in Europe. He expressed confidence that Europe will meet the target of reducing emissions by 8 per cent relative to 1990, noting that the reduction in 2002 had been 2.9 per cent in the 15 EU member-states before enlargement and 9 per cent among the 25 EU member-states.

He also stressed the need to extend international coopertion on the issue of climate change. The EU, United States, Russia, China and India currently produce 75 per cent of greenhouse gases on a global level.

Dimas also announced that EU policy on the climate after 2012 will be discussed at the UPcoming EU summit in March.

[02] BSEC conference to be held in Athens

The member countries are Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldavia, Romania, Russia, Serbia-Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine and Greece which has assumed the BSEC presidency from November 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005.

After the conference - whose objective is to tighten cooperation among the organisation's members and for Greece to share its know-how - a joint statement on institutional restructuring and proper governance is expected to be signed by the BSEC ministers of the interior and justice.

[03] Tourism minister carries out official visit to Bahrain and Qatar

The two leaders extended invitations to Karamanlis to visit their countries.

During the visit, Avramopoulos had talks with government ministers and representatives of the local tourism and hotel sectors that aim at the launch of a new period in the economic and investment ties between Greece and the two Arab states.

The two sides also announced the start of a direct flight from Athens to Qatar by KatarAir from the end of March and an increase in Gulfair flights between Bahrain and Athens.

In Bahrain, the Greek minister signed a cooperation memorandum for tourism issues with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Muhammad Abd-al-Ghaffar Abdallah that also provides for the exchange of knowhow and to encourage investments in the hotel industry.

In addition, it was decided to open Greek tourist bureaus in Bahrain and Qatar, which do not yet have any Greek embassies or consulates, and that a programme for an exchange of visits by business people and government bodies should be made to encourage bilateral cooperation in both the private and public sectors.

[04] Deutsche BA submits non-binding bid for Olympic Airlines

The German airline, formerly owned by British Airways, made the statement to AFX News but declined to give further details as the tender is in progress.

Aegean Airlines of Greece has also stated publicly that it has submitted a non-binding bid in the sale.

In Athens, Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis told reporters after a meeting with the prime minister that he was hopeful a suitable buyer for Olympic would be found on the basis of bidders in the first stage of the tender.

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