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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-04-09Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Tourism minister Petralia in WashingtonGreece's tourism development minister Fani Palli-Petralia arrived in Washington D.C. on Sunday, where she will attend the three-day Global Travel and Tourism Summit that opens Tuesday in the US capital, hosted by the World Tavel & Tourism Council. She will also meet with senior US government officials and leading officials of the US travel and tourism sector.On Monday, Petralia will attend a working breakfast with travel agents, followed by separate meetings with US undersecretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns -- who is a former US ambassador to Greece -- and head of the National Tourism Office Elen Marano. She is scheduled to attend a luncheon at the US Congress, followed by a meeting with American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) executive vice president William Maloney, while she will attend the premiere of Aeschylus' "Persians" being staged by the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, with the funding of the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. On Tuesday, Petralia will attend the Summit, to be attended by US government officials, ministers from all over the world, and top representatives from the tourism branch worldwide, where global tourism developments will be discussed. Petralia will further address an event at Georgetown University on the theme "Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism in post-Olympics Greece", before attending a Washington Post reception for the Summit delegates. The Greek minister will conclude her Washington visit on Wednesday following the round-up of the second and last day of the Summit. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [02] Major changes to EYP in sightPublic order minister Vyron Polydoras announced major changes to come in the National Information Service (EYP), which would be made accountable to parliament, in an interview appearing in the Sunday edition of Eleftherotypia newspaper.Polydoras said the changes would be effected through a draft law that was currently in the final stages of preparation and was due to be tabled soon in parliament. The minister stressed that he would not tolerate factionist and sectarian attitudes in EYP. Asked whether EYP was capable of tapping cell phones, Polydoras was categoric that the information service's equipment was totally inadequate for such surveillance. Questioned on the telephone tappings scandal, Polydoras said that the "crime scene" was Vodafone, the equipment of which was used for the tappings, and stressed that the victims in this case were the government, the prime minister, and ministers, adding that the main bulk of the handling of the matter had been "impeccable, serious and responsible", while the two possibilities in the death of a Vodafone official (murder or forced suicide) needed to be investigated exhaustively. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [03] Local gov't staff decide new 24-hour strikeLocal administration employees have decided to hold another 24-hour strike on Monday, following a marathon meeting by the employees' union federation (POE-OTA) on Sunday, resulting in piles of garbage in the streets of Athens and other major urban centres remaining uncollected for the fifth day.Local administration employees, who are demanding retroactive pay, productivity benefits, the extension of heavy duty and unhygienic work status and the granting of permanence for staff covering permanent needs, will carry out a march to the interior ministry on Monday and will seek a meeting with the interior minister, before considering their new position. Meanwhile, work crews in the Athens municipality have already started to spray piles of garbage in the streets to limit the stench and the risks for public health. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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