Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek political leadership stress importance of protecting the environment in messages on World Environment Day 2005

[02] Turkey and Greece draw 0-0 in World Soccer Cup qualifier

[01] Greek political leadership stress importance of protecting the environment in messages on World Environment Day 2005

Prime Minister and ruling New Democracy party (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis, in his message, stressed the importance of protecting and upgrading the natural environment.

"The challenge to contain the threat of ecological disaster brings all of us, and each one separately, before our responsibilities, regardless of ideological and other preferences and origins," the prime minister noted among other things.

"We are forging ahead with vision and according to plan, with specific measures and actions and by joining our powers. We are determined, all of us together, to win the battle for the environment, to safeguard the quality of life of our generation and of those to follow," Karamanlis added.

Main opposition PASOK leader called for everyone to adopt a conscientious life stance to care and protect the environment, not only today, but every day.

He said World Environment Day "must not end with some events and symbolic acts, with everyone returning to their daily routines tomorrow". Nor should we "consider the environment a given fact in our everyday life, and deal with it only when something disturbs it, and indeed, only when something disrupts 'our neighbourhood environment' ".

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE), it its message, stressed that the problem of environmental protection is not a technical issue but a profoundly political one which cannot be addressed separately from the other major problems facing working people.

The Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN), in its own message said: "Having seen with our eyes almost every possible barbarity at the expanse of man, nature, the precious natural capital, the production methods and civilisation, we have only to press the 'stop button' and prepare to disembark at the next station".

On his part, Transport and Communications minister Michalis Liapis urged commuters to use their cars less and opt instead for the public transport means.

Liapis, who attended a beach clean-up event at Alimos, sponsored by the Tram S.A. on the occasion of World Environment Day, said that fewer cars meant less pollutants in the environment.

[02] Turkey and Greece draw 0-0 in World Soccer Cup qualifier

Turkey ended the match with 10 men after Basturk was sent off in the 89th minute, while a shot by Yiannakopoulos bounced off the crossbar in the 54th minute.

In other matches played for the same group over the weekend, Ukraine beat Kazakhstan 2-0 and Albania edged Georgia 3-2.

Standings after eight games played:Ukraine 20 points, Greece 15, Turkey 13, Denmark (seven matches) 9, Albania 9, Georgia (seven matches) 5 and Kazakhstan (six matches) 0.

Greece's next match will be with Ukraine at Karaiskaki Stadium in Piraeus on Wednesday night.

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