Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, China cooperation in transports sector

[02] 'Encomium to the Olive' exhibition at UN

[03] Greece factor of peace, stability in Mediterranean

[01] Greece, China cooperation in transports sector

Greece and China are discussing plans to involve Chinese firms in developing domestic ports, a move that would aid in the transportation of the companies' goods and bring a lasting improvement in infrastructure, Kefaloyiannis told reporters after his meeting with Li, whose portfolio includes shipping.

"Greek ports are located at the crossroads of Europe, and we wish to make them hubs that will serve global trade in Europe and in the wider region of the southeastern Mediterranean and Africa," Kefaloyiannis said.

"The minister's visit affirms the excellent relations that were inaugurated when Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis visited China. The Chinese minister and I collaborated to draft proposals for the development of Greek ports, cooperating with major Chinese enterprises," the Kefaloyannis noted.

Li also visited a container terminal at Neo Ikonio that belongs to the port of Piraeus.

The Chinese minister also met with Greece's transport minister Michalis Liapis on Monday, with whom he signed a memorandum of cooperation in the transports sector.

The agreement follows Liapis' official visit to China last week, and involves road transports, combined transports and less red tape in cross-border transports between the two countries.

[02] 'Encomium to the Olive' exhibition at UN

Also present at the inauguration will be Culture Minister George Voulgarakis.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has proclaimed 2006 as year of the "Olive Tree", and Greece has planned several promotional activities for the olive tree and its products both inside and outside the country.

The exhibition was first presented during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and is organised by the Athens Academy's Archive Centre for Folklore.

A Greek Food Festival is also scheduled for October 9-20, while a concert by the Greek Radio-Television (ERT) Orchestra will be given at the UN's great hall on October 25.

[03] Greece factor of peace, stability in Mediterranean

The seminar had as its objective the promotion of stability and security in the region, as well as the opening of new channels of communication between NATO and the countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue, in which Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia and Israel are participating. In particular, the second target acquires great importance for Greece, which is henceforth regarded as a stable place of meeting of the region's countries.

"In the direction of the opening of new channels of communication between these countries, the National Defence Ministry, through the Natiional Defence General Staff, took the initiative to organise the seminar in order to study the progress in the various aspects of the Mediterranean dialogue," said Meimarakis, adding that "we believe the conditions are ripe in order for us to achieve the further upgrading of the Mediterranean Dialogue."

At the same time, the minister referred to the holding of a multinational exercise, "Dolphin 2006", which will be conducted in southern Crete on Tuesday.

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