Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou chairs SI meetings on Mideast problem

[02] Athens eyes transfer of inmates to home countries

[03] Florina picked as 'Euro Destination of Excellence'

[01] Papandreou chairs SI meetings on Mideast problem

Taking part in the meeting on behalf of Israel are defence minister and Labor party leader Ehud Barak and Israel's Jewish-Arab social-democratic Meretz party chairman Yossi Beilin, while from the Palestinian Authority, delegations of the Fatah and the PLO are also taking part.

Political analysts described as "important" the fact that the Fatah and PLO delegations are taking part in the SI conference in Israel, while delegations of the Israeli Labor Party and Meretz will be taking part in Tuesday's SI conference in the Palestinian territories.

Opening the meeting in Tel Aviv, Papandreou stressed that developments in the Middle East issue were "more critical than at any other time", and consequently he felt that it was his duty to be there at this time, despite the fact that his obligations were focused on the run-up to a crucial Nov. 11 election for the PASOK leadership.

Labor party deputy leader Efraim Sneh said Papandreou's sensitivity and devotion to the Middle East issue, as the SI president, was greatly appreciated, particularly given that he had chosen to visit the region himself and support efforts of the Palestinians and Israelis amidst the PASOK leadership campaign.

Papandreou arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening.

According to a PASOK announcement ahead of the meeting, the SI conference was taking place at this specific time so that the SI could contribute to the workings taking place in view of a critical international peace conference in the Middle East -- to take place in Annapolis next month (Nov. 26) -- with the participation of Israelis and Palestinians, international organisations, a number of countries from Europe and the Arab world as well as other regions, all of whom are playing a role in efforts to resolve the Middle East problem.

The announcement said the purpose of the SI conference is to encourage all sides involved in taking steps necessary towards a comprehensive solution to the problem.

Caption: PASOK and Socialist International leader George Papandreou. ANA-MPA

[02] Athens eyes transfer of inmates to home countries

Outlining Greek Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis' proposal, it also pointed out that foreign inmates now accounted for 48 percent of Greece's overall prison population.

The justice ministry said the campaign began at the 28th Council of Europe (CoE) justice ministers' meeting, held in Spain on Oct. 25-26. Hatzigakis proposed that the ministerial meeting adopt a second additional protocol in the Convention for the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and asked his counterparts to support the initiative within the CoE.

The ministry also indicated that Hatzigakis intended to step up efforts to raise the issue at European bodies and would initiate a series of bilateral meetings with his European counterparts in order to promote the idea.

The announcement said the minister had already agreed with joint initiatives at the European Union and the CoE with his Cypriot counterpart Sophoclis Sophocleous, so that "foreign prisoners (who constitute a major problem for prisons in both countries) serve their sentences in their country of origin".

Also signed during the CoE justice ministers' meeting was a convention for the protection of minors from sexual exploitation and ill treatment, which introduced new and severe penalties.

In his address on this issue, Hatzigakis stressed that ensuring the access of vulnerable groups to justice ranked high in Greece's priorities.

Caption: File photo of Greek Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis. ANA-MPA / M. KIAOU

[03] Florina picked as 'Euro Destination of Excellence'

Florina was particularly praised for the ski resort Vitsi and the hiking paths on Mounts Varnous, Vernon and Voras, leading to the Prespes Lakes region.

Caption: A view of the lesser Prespa Lake in NW Greece. ANA-MPA / STR

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