Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, EIB sign pact on financing for Greek seaports

[02] Deputy FM inaugurates work on Common Institutions building in Sarajevo

[03] Tourism ministry partners with Athens Concert Hall

[01] Greece, EIB sign pact on financing for Greek seaports

Signing in Luxembourg were Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis and EIB Vice-President Gerlando Genuardi following consultations over recent months, the European Union's financing arm said in a statement.

The merchant marine ministry announced that the loan has a value of up to three billion euros for a six-billion-euro project to upgrade ports around the country. The 25-year arrangement has a grace period of seven years and a low rate of interest, without requiring state guarantees.

"The agreement underlines the EIBās interest in supporting through the eventual financing of individual projects a high-priority investment programme under the stateās port development strategy, covering the period 2005-2015," the EIB said.

Greece considers improving its seaports of vital importance for the national and EU economies; and as part of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TENs) based on inter-modal transport the expansion and development of hinterland infrastructure connections with the Greek ports will enhance their crucial role as transshipment nodes, connecting the Middle East, North Africa and Black Sea with Central and Northern Europe, according to the EIB.

[02] Deputy FM inaugurates work on Common Institutions building in Sarajevo

Reconstruction of the building, which will house Bosnia & Herzegovina's government agencies, is funded 80.4% (ā¬13.5 million) by the Greek government within the context of the Greek Plan for Economic Reconstruction in the Balkans.

The building will be renamed to the "Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina Friendship Building."

UN High Representative Lord Paddy Ashdown thanked Grece for its significant role in the west Balkans in terms of bringing about stability and helping development, and congratulated the Greek government on beginning reconstruction work on the building.

[03] Tourism ministry partners with Athens Concert Hall

Part of the collaboration entails a series of concerts that will be held at the Hall with the support of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT).

Famous Greek singers and musicians will be participating in 10 concerts that will run from August 30 through September 14.

According to Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos this particular initiative will prove particularly productive and he stressed that similar pilot projects will be implemented throughout the country.

"The objective is for tourists' visit to our country to be combined, among other things, with their involvement in cultural events. To this end, and in cooperation with travel agents and hoteliers, foreign visitors will be informed about these concerts," he said.

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