Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Germanwings names plane after Greek capital

[02] Chinese officials confer with Greek police on Olympic Games security

[03] Athens University proclaims Archbishop Demetrios of America Honourary Doctor of Literature

[01] Germanwings names plane after Greek capital

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis, who officially unveiled the name of the plane, noted Germanwings' impressive contribution in the increase of tourist arrivals to Greece each year.

"Every year, thousands of Germans visit our country, either due to business or due to vacations", Bakoyannis said, adding, "and Germanwings as one of Europe's largest low-cost airline contributes impressively to the annual increase of visitors to our city."

Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" CEO Alfred Van der Meer stressed that the German carrier is one of the fastest growing at the airport.

Referring to the company's decision to name the plane after the city of Athens, Karl-Heinz Hilgers, Member of the Management of Germanwings said: "The image and attractivity of Athens, the City hosting the first and the latest Olympic Games, have improved incredibly. (...) Ties between Greece and Germany are strong and we are close friends."

[02] Chinese officials confer with Greek police on Olympic Games security

The Greek Police on Wednesday received a delegation of 20 Chinese officials interested in security-related issues ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.

The visit is part of ongoing cooperation between the Public Order Ministry and the city of Tianjin - one of four cities that will host Olympic events.

Members of the Olympic Games Security division briefed the Chinese delegation on management crisis and security planning and coordination.

[03] Athens University proclaims Archbishop Demetrios of America Honourary Doctor of Literature

The Archbishop had arrived in Athens on Tuesday for this purpose.

During the ceremony, the rector of Athens University, George Bambiniotis, hailed the personality of Archbishop Demetrios and stressed that he was a member of the family of Athens University given that he is already a Doctor of the Theological School.

Present at the ceremony, among others, were ministers, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania and other members of the clergy.

A dinner in the Archbishop's honour was held afterwards at the University.

Earlier, Archbishop Demetrios called on foreign minister Petros Molyviatis, with whom he discussed issues concerning Greek expatriates and ways to strengthen their ties with Greece, focusing especially on ways to preserve the Greek language and Greek studies in America.

Immediately after meeting Molyviatis, the Archbishop paid a courtesy visit to United States Ambassador in Athens Charles Ries.

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