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Wednesday, 4 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-10-18Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Mykonos gets Readers' Choice Award as top destinationThe number of visitors to Greece from North America increased by 400 per cent in comparision to last year and the aim of the tourism development ministry is for the number to exceed 700,000 in 2007.This data was presented by the president of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), Dimitrios Labadarios, who on Monday night attended the "Readers' Choice Awards" at New York's Natural History Museum, and received the first prize for the most popular Greek island for American tourists, none other than Mykonos. The selection was made following a vote by the magazine "Conde Nast Traveler" and also placed Corfu, Rhodes and Crete in the top 10 most popular islands of Europe for travelers from the United States. Labadarios, speaking during a press conference on Tuesday at the Greek press office in New York, said the new ad campaign will start from London on Nov. 6, with more "modern data" and for the purpose of promoting many other advantages of Greek tourism, beyond that of the sea and sun. He noted that in 2007 there will be a greater presence in exhibitions in America, but also advertising spots in American cable television. The GNTO president underlined that Greece is one of the safest countries for American tourists and announced that as of next May, another American airline company will start direct flights from the United States to Greece. Caption: Mykonos' famed Platy Gialos beach. ANA-MPA file photo. [02] Ecumenical Patriarch meets with Greek leadershipVisiting Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos on Wednesday continued his meetings in Athens with top Greek leadership, as he was received separately by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, and also had separate meetings with education and religious affairs minister Marietta Yannakou and foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis."I wage a daily struggle," the Ecumenical Patriarch told the prime minister during their half-hour meeting, which was also attended by Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos and Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis. Earlier, Vartholomeos had a half-hour meeting with Education and Religious Affairs Minister Marietta Yiannakou. No statements were made afterwards. Following his meeting with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the latter stressed that "I have publicly and emphatically stressed the ecumenical nature of the Patriarchate and issues affecting its smooth operation to both the Turkish government and at international fora," Bakoyannis said, while citing her satisfaction with the fact that a large number of Turkish press reports of late have vigorously pointed out that its ecumenical nature is an advantage and not a disadvantage for the host country. She also repeatedly referred to the "international standing and stature" of Vartholomeos, as well as the latter's wholehearted support for inter-faith dialogue. "Your position against fanaticism, prejudice and hate inspires us all," Bakoyannis said, adding: "Dialogue with our neighbouring Islam is a clear example of how you view your ecumenical role". On his part, Vartholomeos noted: "We love the country (Turkey) where we live and where the Patriarchate is based; we love Greece, and we love the environment ... we love our non-Orthodox Christian brothers, Muslims and Jews, with whom we hold a systematic dialogue; we are trying to create a more humane environment, a better one for future generations". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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