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Tuesday, 16 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-09-16Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM addresses UN General Assembly, says impoverishment and starvation a disgrace for our centuryNEW YORK (ANA - P. Panagiotou) - Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, addressing the United Nations Organisation's General Assembly on Friday, stressed that "impoverishment and starvation are a disgrace for our century", adding that "today we possess the means to eradicate them. We must insist on this target, as well as on all the Development Targets of the Millennium, so that we can implement them by 2015." Focusing on the Millennium Proclamation, the prime minister pointed out that "in the framework of this global effort, Greece has considerably increased the development aid it is providing." Karamanlis paid particular attention during his address to the Proclamation expected to be adopted later in the day by the heads of state and government participating in the summit."It constitutes, in our opinion, a good starting point on the long path of necessary reforms," he said, and added that it is also "an opportunity for us to reiterate our commitment to such basic principles as the obligation to avoid the threat or use of force in any way incompatible with the UN Charter, the peaceful resolving of disputes, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, the authority of the Security Council must take action to preserve and restore international peace and security and Security Council resolutions must be implemented in full." Karamanlis further said that "five years ago, in adopting the Millennium Proclamation, the leaders of the world set ambitious but feasible targets, incorporating the hopes of the international community for the new century, for a world which shall be united and have common principles and which shall struggle with determination to achieve peace and to secure dignified living conditions for every man, woman and child." Referring to the issue of terrorism, the prime minister went on to say that "following the adoption of the Millennium Proclamation, important events have changed our conception of peace and security dramatically. The terrorist attacks in New York and elsewhere have brought to the surface new global threats and challenges." Karamanlis indicated that only through the commitments mentioned above "can we hope for an effective handling of terrorism, global epidemics, impoverishment, natural disasters, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international organised crime, mass violations of human rights and of every other scourge in our world." He also said "this year we are honouring the 60th anniversary of our Organisation's creation which, constructed for a different era, must adjust itself in order to be effective in the new international environment. The United Nations, the only true global institution at the service of mankind, which possesses unique legalisation, must meet the new realities and challenges." Karamanlis concluded his address to the General Assembly by noting that the Proclamation "is a strong political appeal which incorporates most of the ideas proposed for development, the building of peace, human rights, the preservation of peace and the institutions of the United Nations." [02] Gov't to table Parliament amendment aimed at sheltering OA assetsPress questions regarding the fate of ailing national carrier Olympic Airway/Airlines (OA continued to dominate much of the government spokesman's daily briefings, with the government on Friday emphasising that all measures will be taken to legally protect OA's assets from the company's creditors. Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos made the statement at the end of a week that witnessed a European Commission decision calling for the return of upwards of 500 million euros from debt-laden OA back to the state's coffers.Only hours after he made the statement, the government was set to table an amendment in Parliament postponing the execution of certain legal actions - individual or collectively, both within and outside Greece -- against OA's assets until Feb. 28, 2006, such as orders of confiscation, restraining orders etc. The amendment excludes the state from the amendment's provisions. An addendum notes that the amendment's provisions aim at ensuring the operation and control of OA's assets until a decision is made on whether an ongoing effort to privatise the company can continue. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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