Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-08-07

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bakoyanni visits MPC

[02] Fire on Thassos under control

[03] Tourism promotion project

[01] Bakoyanni visits MPC

In a brief exchange with accredited sportswriters at the press centre, Bakoyannis was initially queried on the issue of representation of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) Olympic team here, as the "name issue" matter has soured relations between the two neighbours over the past few months.

The Greek FM merely noted that necessary moves have been made at political and IOC level to ensure that the appropriate procedures will be followed to the letter by the Olympic delegation from FYROM, i.e. the name of the country as listed by the IOC, for instance.

A day earlier Greek diplomats and sports officials took the issue up with Beijing organisers after an official BOGOC website referred to FYROM athletes as "Macedonians" during their arrival at the Olympic Village, a noun taken from the large northern Greece province of Macedonia that official Greece strenuously rejects.

Bakoyannis, however, stressed that the Greek side will continue to maintain a low-key in the nagging dispute, unless provoked.

'We are a serious country that hosted the last Olympic Games with absolute success and we will not be bothered with anything that it is on the verge of being regarded as ludicrous," she reminded.

"The name under which FYROM will appear in the opening ceremony is registered with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as was the case at the Olympic Games in Athens and Sydney," Bakoyannis added.

Caption: View of the hoist of the Greek flag in the Olympic village in Beijing on Wednesday 6 August 2008. ANA-MPA/SYMELA PANTZARTZI

[02] Fire on Thassos under control

According to the Fire Brigade the fire burned 500 stremma of forestland.

Another fire broke out due to a thunder at 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon in a forest near Ano Kotylio village, in the Arcadia prefecture, central Peloponnese. One water dropping helicopter and a major force of firefighters are taking part in the operation.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo

[03] Tourism promotion project

According to a ministry press release, in this context, "the ministry has creatively enriched the Cruise Passenger Station "Akti Xaveriou" of the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) with the purpose of hosting the advertising campaign of the ministry for the eco-tourism routes, which have been co-financed by the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF)."

These include eco-tourism routes in popular destinations, such as Santorini, Ancient Olympia and Alonnisos.

The utilization of OLP's Cruise Passenger Station for the projection of advertising messages through issues which promote the advantages and potential of Greek tourism to passengers of cruise ships, is of decisive importance, as more than 1.5 million cruise ship passengers pass from the port of Piraeus annually.

This initiative has a strategic and symbolic character due to the great importance which the Tourism Development Ministry attributes to the continuously increased cruise ship market, which attracts more than 11 million tourists annually, the press release concluded.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo

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