Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-03
CONTENTS
[01] Karamanlis to meet FinMin
[02] Papaligouras on piracy
[01] Karamanlis to meet FinMin
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis received on Friday the member of
French Parliament and President of the Poitou-Charentes regional
council Segolene Royal at the Maximos mansion.No statements were made
after the meeting. Later, Karamanlis will meet with Economy and Finance
Minister George Alogoskoufis.On Thursday the premier underlined that
The government will persevere with the reforms needed to put the
country on track and not back down . He made the statement after
chairing a meeting of the full cabinet to discuss the ramifications of
the global economic crisis and the government's response to it.
"Greece has only one path it can take. The path that leads ahead. And I
am here to push things forward. This government was elected to change
things and it will change things. This is the mandate I was given and
intend to honour," Karamanlis said.
[02] Papaligouras on piracy
Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy Minister Anastasios
Papaligouras has undertaken an initiative on the issue of combatting
piracy in the region of Somalia.
The minister has sent a letter to the European Union, stressing the
need for European maritime forces to be supported in Somalia in the
framework of relevant initiatives by the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) and the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Papaligouras pointed out in the letter to European Commission vice
president Antonio Tajani and the EU's Transport Council presiding
official J. Borloo that the increase in pirate attacks in Somalia
"constitutes a serious threat not only for the personal safety of
seamen but for the smooth operation of international shipping as
well and, consequently, constant vigilance and increased patrols are
necessary in the framework of international legality."
He also called on the European Council's presidency and on the
European Commission to "act immediately, together with an
understanding with NATO, to improve the coordination of the
operations of member-states and of the EU in Somalia to achieve a
more effective handling of this serious threat."
Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island
Policy Minister Anastasios Papaligouras
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