Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-09

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM praises Cypriot gov't decision to tear down barrier in divided Nicosia

[02] Greece pledges strong action on climate change

[01] PM praises Cypriot gov't decision to tear down barrier in divided Nicosia

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of an EU summit in Brussels, Karamanlis emphasised that Greece whole-heartedly praises the unilateral move by the Cypriot government, which he termed "bold", to tear down the Ledra street barrier in the island republic's capital.

The Greek premier said the move was highly symbolic and a substantive example of good-neighbourliness.

Moreover, he said Athens had been briefed over the development, while noting that "we are awaiting reciprocation from the other side so that the Ledra street entrance is transformed from a point of separation, as it was until today, into a point and symbol of free communication between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots."

In response to a press question on the prospect of a US anti-missile system being based in European countries, Karamanlis said the issue was only given cursory consideration by EU leaders.

"Obviously, opinions (on the matter) are not very divergent for the specific issue to be systematically discussed and analysed," he said, while noting, however, that such issues affect all of the member-states.

"All such issues must be discussed within the framework of a clear and sincere dialogue with the widest possible participation. Such an institutional and tested framework is the military and political dialogue between NATO member-states and Russia," he said.

In an unrelated development, and commenting on the prospect of a visit to Athens by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Karamanlis merely referred to a previous foreign ministry announcement before reminding of Athens' standing policy vis-à-vis Ankara. He said that a specific date for a Gul visit to Greece will be decided via diplomatic channels.

Regarding the Berlin Declaration that EU leaders are expected to adapt on March 25 on the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, Karamanlis reiterated Athens' policy of backing further enlargement as an issue of general and institutional EU policy, saying Greece wants this position to be included in the declaration.

"The door must remain open for countries that want to become EU member-states, assuming, of course, that they fulfil all the conditions and obligations placed by the Union," he said, adding that this concerns Turkey and other Balkan countries.

Caption: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis delivers a speech during a plenary session of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg last month, Wednesday 24 January 2007. ANA-MPA/ EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA

[02] Greece pledges strong action on climate change

Karamanlis stressed that decisions taken by EU leaders in Brussels placed Europe in the vanguard of the global effort to tackle climate change.

"We made important decisions and set ambitious goals on a series of issues, such as extending the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of carbon dioxide gas emissions," Karamanlis announced.

He also emphasised the importance of the 2007-2009 Action Plan, which outlined measures for the security of energy supplies, speeding up a common approach to foreign energy policy and establishing a strategic plan for energy technologies.

Regarding Greece, Karamanlis said the country had a comprehensive policy designed to help it meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.

He pointed to the revision of the existing national programme for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the drafting of Greece's first national allocation plan for 2005-2007 (as part of the EU emissions trading scheme) that calls for a 2.1 pct reduction in greenhouse gases, which was approved by the Commission exactly as submitted.

The premier noted that emissions allocation will be even stricter in 2008-2012, as foreseen under the second national allocation plan that Greece submitted to the EU Commission on schedule, before the deadline on September 1, 2006.

In this plan, the 150 most polluting industries in Greece are required to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by 8.9 percent, he said.

Greece's track record on reducing emissions has come under fire from environmental groups and EU officials, including Commissioner Stavros Dimas, who is in charge of environmental issues at the EU's executive branch.

In statements at the end of February, Dimas said Greece was veering from targets for greenhouse gas emissions and urgently needed to take corrective measures.

"Carbon dioxide emissions, based on the Kyoto Protocol and Community levels, should increase by just 25 percent in Greece [relative to levels in 1990]. We are at 26 percent and if we do not take immediate and strict measures we will reach 40 percent," the Greek Commissioner told MPs.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article