Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime Minister meets with Finnish counterpart in Helsinki

[02] Gov't on eco policy towards low-income groups

[03] OA resumes service to Beirut

[04] President attends school opening day

[01] Prime Minister meets with Finnish counterpart in Helsinki

Karamanlis called on the EU presidency to exert pressure on Ankara to fulfill the obligations it has assumed towards the European Union.

Earlier, the Greek prime minister toured an exhibition of artifacts from Mt. Athos, currently on display at the Helsinki Art Museum.

Speaking to reporters after the tour, Karamanlis said that every Greek felt moved, not only in admiring the exhibits, but also with the respect with which the organisers manifested towards the exhibition.

He said the exhibition highlighted the ecumenical reference of Orthodoxy, adding that the more than 1,000-year tradition of Athos was a priceless cultural treasure, and directed at the entire world".

Greece, as the guardian of Mt. Athos, was doing its best so that this tradition would continue with new momentum and inspire values and ideals in a world that had so much need of those today more than ever, Karamanlis said.

Karamanlis is in Helsinki for the Europe-Asia summit meeting,w hich he was due to address later in the day, on the topic of religion and the inter-cultural dialogue.

[02] Gov't on eco policy towards low-income groups

"The prime minister in Thessaloniki referred extensively to what has been accomplished in the two and a half years of a New Democracy government. The premier also said that today's government behaves as a responsible government towards mature citizens, and Greek citizens are mature. All of ND's promises and the government's promises are being met, one step at a time, as the time-frame is over a four-year period," alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said in reply to a reporter's question on whether the government is bucking benefits towards low-income groups to the future.

[03] OA resumes service to Beirut

"I am here to show that Greece believes in the peace process for Lebanon and in the country's swift recovery. We stand at the side of the Lebanese government, we continue to offer humanitarian aid and we participate actively in restoring the damage from the war and in rebuilding Lebanon," Kassimis said on his arrival.

The Greek minister was met by Lebanese Environment Minister Yacoub Sarraf, who conveyed his government's thanks to Greece for its assistance, underlining that the first ships to sail into Beirut after Israel's offensive began were the Greek Navy ships "Rodos" and "Chios" and that Greece had been one of the first countries to come to Lebanon's aid during the crisis.

He also thanked the Greek government for Greece's participation in the UN force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and said that Greece was one of the "privileged partners that we intend to have for the new Lebanon".

Sarraf said that the Lebanese government hopes to develop close ties of cooperation with Greece and aims to become a bridge between the European Union and the Arab world, using relations with Greece and Cyprus as a conduit.

[04] President attends school opening day

Papoulias wished the pupils good luck and urged them to throw themselves into the battle for the fruition of their dreams, just like Greece's men's national basketball team -- which took second place in the FIBA world championship earlier this month -- did with much work, self-confidence and optimism.

Yannakou said that the President's presence at the school was symbolic and carried a message, as it expressed the unity of the Greek nation, adding that education was the primary field "in which we can invest and offer".

She wished the pupils a good year, and urged them not to have anxiety, adding that the teachers have been successfully instructed in the new schoolbooks being introduced this year.

Asked to comment on teachers' criticism of thousands of vacancies in teaching staff in the country's public schools, Yannakou said there would be no vacancies, since there were enough alternates (registered teachers who have not been assigned permanent appointments) to cover any need that arises.

Questioned on a teachers' strike scheduled to begin on September 18, the minister replied that "we live in a democracy".

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