Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-01-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece to grant 5 million euros to Lebanon

[01] Greece to grant 5 million euros to Lebanon

Announcing the aid, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said that Greece had already granted a 2.5 million euros aid to Lebanon in the form of immediate humanitarian aid last summer, while the additional 5 million euros are destined for the reconstruction effort in the Middle East country.

Bakoyannis participated in the World conference of donors held in Paris on Thursday, in which Lebanon won more than $7.6 billion.

The conference sent a strong political message of support for the Lebanese people, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of his country, at the "International Donoros Conference for the Reconstruction of Lebanon", that is taking place at a high level here, under the chairmanship of President Jacques Chirac and with the participation of 36 countries and 14 international organisations.

When she completed her address, she received praise from President Chirac who told her "I understand why you succeeded with the Olympic Games."

Greece was present from the very beginning of the crisis and continues to be present now in the reconstruction phase, to the degree of its capabilities, said the foreign ministry's International Economic Relations Secretary General Th. Skylakakis, who is accompanying the minister, while the ministry's spokesman George Koumoutsakos pointed to the "strong political message of support for the Lebanese people in their entirety and the Sioniora government", a message that was sent by Thursday's conference, stressing that "Greece is also facing it from this point of view" and added that "the aim of all is the speedier and fuller implementation of Security Council resolution 1701."

The five million euros that Greece will be giving will be provided for the construction of infrastructure projects, that include four bridges and two medical centres, while the possibility of development cooperation and in programmes concerning renewable energy sources as well is being examined, Skylakakis said, clarifying that the aid is geographically and socially balanced, since it will be implemented in different parts of the country in which different religious entities live.

Cyprus also received praise for its role in the Lebanon crisis. President Chirac said after the address by Cyprus Foreign Minister George Lillikas that Lebanon owes great recognition to Larnaca and this cannot be assessed in dollars.

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