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Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-08-17Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] IMO meeting in Piraeus on Lebanon oil spillAccording to initial assessments by specialised experts of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the cost for combatting the oil spill which was caused during the war in Lebanon and currently constitutes an ecological disaster to Lebanon's and Syria's coasts, will amount to more than 50,000,000 euros.The sum of the operation for clearing up the oil spill was discussed during the sessions of the IMO's International Coordination Meeting, which was held in Piraeus on Thursday at the initiative of Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis. Referring to the results of the meeting, taking part in which were representatives from Cyprus, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, the European Union, the United Nations as well as Greek Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, IMO Secretary-General Efthymios Mitropoulos said that "the coordinated action of the interested sides has been achieved, and already resources are sought which will contribute economically in the combatting of the oil spill." Mitropoulos said that the EU will pay 10,000,000 euros, OPEC 200,000 euros and IMO will attempt to accumulate money by transferring sums from other funds, such as the one which has been set up for the combatting of pollution. The executive director of the United Nations' Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, referring to the oil spill caused by the bombardment of an oil storage unit, noted that his service will send letters to all the major oil companies, asking them to help in the operation of combatting the oil spill. Minister Kefaloyiannis said that "in the heart of the Greek summer, we have the honour today to host distinguished personalities of the competent international organisations, of governments, and of diplomatic authorities, under pressing conditions which are caused by the unpleasant developments in our region." Kefaloyiannis added that "it is also my conviction that the development of international cooperation for a coordinated removal of the oil spill can help in measuring or also in eradicating its consequences." (ANA-MPA photo of Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis at IMO meeting in Piraeus on Thursday) [02] Patriarch on visit to SamosEcumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos continued his visit to the eastern Aegean island of Samos on Thursday, where he toured the Aegean Natural History Museum on the verdant island. The ecumenical patriarch arrived in Samos on Wednesday night from Lesvos.The Patriarch, the "primus inter pares" of the world's Orthodox Patriarchs, arrived in Greece over the weekend, and specifically on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, to participate in Dormition of the Virgin religious services on Tuesday. Vartholomeos met with local officials, wine-makers and subsequently visited a local monastery on Samos. [03] Measures for heat waveThe City of Athens announced this week that it will leave a total of 26 air-conditioned centres, 19 friendship halls and seven municipal health clinics, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. as of Friday ahead of forecast "mini heat wave" expected to move through the east Mediterranean country.The example is expected to be followed by state services and local government entities throughout Greece, in the wake of a directive issued by the General Secretary for Civil Defense on Thursday. The weather service forecast a high of 37C for the greater Athens area on Friday. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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