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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-08-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou departs for FinlandMain opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader and Socialist International (SI) President George Papandreou departed on Monday to Helsinki for talks with Finnish Foreign Minister and current EU Council President Erkki Tuomioja on the Middle East crisis, Iran, Turkey's EU accession course and the Cyprus issue.During his stop-over at Munich airport, Papandreou held telephone talks with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa and former Israeli defence minister Efraim Sneh, while on arrival at Helsinki airport he had telephone contacts with Syrian President Bashar al Assad and Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal. [02] New airport on Kalymnos to be inaugurated this weekTransport Minister Michalis Liapis will head a joint civil aviation administration and state-run Olympic Airways (OA) delegation to the Dodecanese islands of Kalymnos and Rhodes this week for the inauguration of a new and much-awaited airport on the former and a new terminal at the Diagoras Airport on the latter well-known holiday isle.Both projects are expected to boost economic and tourism development on the islands. [03] Synasmismos leader meets Cuban ambassadorCoalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos on Monday met with Cuban Ambassador in Athens Hermes Herrera Hernandez.In statements after the meeting , Alavanos wished "for a speedy recovery" of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who, he said, "is a legendary figure of the world revolutionary movement." Alavanos expressed his party's condemnation of "the continuous American interventions and of the president and secretary of state of the United States" in Cuba. Alavanos added:"Maybe they are dreaming of Cuba becoming again the casino and brothel of the U.S. However, time does not turn back. One should note that the greatest adversary at this moment and the greatest enemy of Cuba's development and social democratic course is the U.S. itself, with the suffocating embargo which it has imposed and the continuous underming which it is advancing." On his part, the Cuban ambassador said "the situation in Cuba is normal." Ambassador Herrera Hernandez added:"Naturally, we are concerned about Fidel's health. He is continuing to be under medical observation. Unfortunately, he had to concede his powers for a few weeks, but the situation is normal. Raul (Fidel's brother) was accepted from the very first day. And naturally, there is no crisis in Cuba, as (U.S. Secretary of State Condolleeza) Mrs. Rice referred. Everything will be fine in a few weeks." [04] Tax exempt status for donations to Church of AlbaniaPrivate individuals and companies wishing to make donations to the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania will now enjoy tax exemption status in Greece based on a new law effective Jan. 1, 2006.Also, the Orthodox Church of Albania will be listed amongst the institutions that are exempt from inheritance taxes normally paid by beneficiaries based on legislation in effect since Jan. 1, 2004. The development means that any estate donated to the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania after Jan. 1, 2004 will be exempt from the inheritance tax, while the Church is not obligated to declare the acquisition in a tax statement. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |