Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papoulias' address in Berlin focuses on EU

[02] Indian parliamentary delegation to visit Greece

[01] Papoulias' address in Berlin focuses on EU

Concerning Turkey's EU accession course, President Papoulias reiterated that Greece "supports the strategy of further enlargement, without, however, regarding it as a mechanical procedure or a procedure which obeys to geostrategic or other logics and not to inflexible European principles and values which we constructed through extremely painful historical procedures."

Papoulias noted that the Europen Union "can neither be absent nor silent, when crises arise such as that of Lebanon."

Regarding in particular the prospects of Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to the EU, the Greek President of the Republic noted that "their incorporation in the Union will strengthen stability in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole, while a corresponding positive result will also be the accession of the Western Balkans, when the relevant procedures are fulfilled."

Papoulias further expressed his conviction that Germany's presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2007 "will contribute in the upgrading of the European dialogue and will work for a Europe with a worldwide mission and humane face, for a model Europe of social cohesion, solidarity and growth, for a superforce Europe of humaneness and sensitivity."

On Tuesday, President Papoulias will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and with leaders of the opposition, while he will also meet the mayor of Berlin.

Papoulias is accompanied by National Education and Religious Affairs Minister Marietta Yiannakou and Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis.

[02] Indian parliamentary delegation to visit Greece

The delegation arrives in Athens on September 24 for a five day visit, which aims to strengthen relations between the parliaments of India and Greece and mutual understanding on issues of common interest, an Indian Embassy press release said.

"Democracy originated in Greece, while India is the largest democracy today. Both countries share common perspectives on important international issues," the press release said.

The Indian delegation, led by Chatterjee, includes six members of Parliament - four from the Lok Sabha (House of People), and two from the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), representing different parties -- and senior officials of the Indian Parliament.

The delegation is scheduled to meet with the President of the Hellenic Parliament, the President of the Republic, and the leaders of the political parties represented in parliament, and also hold talks with the 13 member Indo-Hellenic Friendship Group of the Hellenic Parliament.

Indo-Greek exchanges have grown in trade, investment, information technology, tourism, and culture. Indian exports to Greece have risen considerably from from $113.5 million in 2000-01 to $ 306.3 million in 2004-05 and are likely to reach $ 480 million in 2005-06. In Jan -May 2006, Indian exports increased to $ 350 million, registering a growth of 80% over the same period in 2005. Indian IT companies have secured IT service contracts with Greek banks. Investment flows are also picking up. There is good potential for increasing tourism flows in both directions. Some 12,000 Indian migrants mostly from Punjab, are in Greece, working in the agricultural sector, according to the press release.

Caption: Indian Lok Sabha (House of the People) speaker Somnath Chatterjee willhead a 6-member delegation of the Indian parliament to Greece on September 24-28.

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