Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-09-01

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] British EU presidency tables new draft text in reply to unilateral Turkish statement

[02] 9th International Environmental Science and Technology conference begins in Rhodes

[01] British EU presidency tables new draft text in reply to unilateral Turkish statement

"The British Presidency presented a new draft text at the informal Council of Foreign Ministers at Newport today on the European reply to the known unilateral Turkish statement," the foreign ministry spokesman said at the end of the afternoon session, adding that a discussion lasting for many hours followed between the foreign ministers.

"The Presidency's new proposal, despite its visible improvement which renders it a basis for further negotiating, requires more improvements.

"For this reason, Foreign Minister Mr. P. Molyviatis stressed that the desirable common denominator does not exist yet. Both he and the Foreign Minister of Cyprus Mr. Iakovou requested from the British Presidency the continuation of the discussion at the level of Permanent Representatives. There Greece, always in cooperation with the government of Cyprus as well as its other partners, will pursue further necessary improvements.

"The Greek and Cypriot proposal, which was also supported by other partners as well, was accepted and the text will be discussed again at the meeting of Permanent Representatives in Brussels which is expected to convene next Wednesday September 7, 2005," Koumoutsakos added.

[02] 9th International Environmental Science and Technology conference begins in Rhodes

The conference was inaugurated by President Karolos Papoulias who said "my presence at this conference is a great joy for me, which I hope will contribute to the deepening of collective scepticism on protection for the environment."

President Papoulias added that "we have reached the verge of perpetrating what is called in the language of theology a 'Crime against Creation'."

He further pointed out that "a series of environmental disasters, from the Chernobyl system to the wreck of the Exxon Valdez, and from the Ozone hole to the melting of the glaciers, has brought the world before a forgotten truth:That the deification of the logic of profit has consequences, that nature avenges its avengers."

An address was made on behalf of the government by Aegean and Insular Policy Minister Aristotelis Pavlidis, who referred to the serious problem facing border islands in the region and which is none other than water "which is an international issue, but which is above all an issue of life for many of our islands."

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article