Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-11-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turkish ship carrying 275 illegals towed to safety

[02] Dep. FM on official visit to India

[03] New US envoy to Greece addresses NY event

[01] Turkish ship carrying 275 illegals towed to safety

The vessel was safely towed to the port of Katakolo shortly before noon on Sunday.

The motorship, identified as the "Akdag", issued an SOS at 9 p.m. Saturday as it was running adrift in 10-beaufort winds. The ship's captain told the Hellenic Navy's operations room that the vessel was carrying 275 illegal immigrants, most of them women and children, targeting disembarkation in Italy.

Greek coast guard vessels, rescue vessels and an all-weather helicopter were immediately despatched to the distressed motorship's assistance, while doctors and ambulances also rushed to Katakolo, in Pyrgos municipality, Ilia prefecture, on standby.

The Turkish ship, which was seized, reportedly sailed from Turkey and was headed to Italy, according to the skipper, who was arrested.

Twelve of the children and several adults aboard the vessel were hospitalised in Pyrgos, mostly suffering from hypothermia and dehydration. As soon as a count of the illegal immigrants is completed, they will be taken to the old Pyrgos hospital facility.

Staff members from the Athens-based infectious diseases control centre are due to arrive at the facility on Monday to perform medical examinations and tests on the illegal immigrants, who hailed from Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey, according to a coastguard spokeswoman.

Caption: The illegal migrant-laden vessel "Akdag", a Turkish-flagged motorship, is shown docked at the port of Katakolo in southwest Greece on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007. ANA-MPA/D. Papaioannou.

[02] Dep. FM on official visit to India

"Greece is the closest euro-zone country to India ... We are aiming at the creation of joint ventures, the exportation of know-how and products. We are calling on the Indian side to invest, taking advantage of law 3427/2005 that permits the operation of regional and head offices with a very favourable tax status in Greece, a multiply attractive destination," Doukas said en route to New Delhi.

The deputy foreign minister further noted that representatives of the film industry, fashion world and SMEs, as well as representatives of universities, museums, the Athens stock exchange and shipping companies are also participating.

The mission also includes representatives from the sectors of construction, foodstuffs, IT and pharmaceuticals, along with the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) and the National Port Development Centre.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Doukas.

[03] New US envoy to Greece addresses NY event

Speaking early Saturday (Greek time) with officials of the Hellenic American community and press during a reception in his honour organised by the Cyprus Federation of America and the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Speckhard said he looked forward to working closely with the Greek American community in order to advance solutions to problems that have been long outstanding, such as the Cyprus problem and the FYROM name issue, and promised to work hard towards that goal.

Speckhard called Greece one of the most important countries in the world, and historically one of US's most significant allies, sharing common values, and also acknowledged the important role played by the Greek American community in boosting relations between Greece and the US.

Caption: New US ambassador to Greece Daniel Speckhard (ANA-MPA/EPA file photo).

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