Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou to chair PASOK meeting on Wednesday

[02] Initiatives to upgrade tourism

[01] Papandreou to chair PASOK meeting on Wednesday

Meanwhile on Tuesday, party spokesman Yiannis Ragoussis commented on the issue of former culture ministry secretary general Christos Zachopoulos, saying that in this case the government "is only interested in one thing: in telling lies to the Greek people and preventing the revelation of the truth in every way."

PASOK's spokesman further accused Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis of "stubbornly refusing" to adopt and primarily to enact the package of proposals by PASOK leader George Papandreou "on cracking down on corruption and protecting public funds."

Ragoussis also denied a scenario published in a Belgian newspaper (Soir), according to which a proposal exists in the ranks of the European socialists on placing Papandreou at the post of European Union foreign minister. The spokesman denied both the scenario and the possibility of the PASOK leader knowing something about it and even more so of having adopted or of adopting similar proposals.

"The sole concern of Mr. Papandreou is our country and how it will be able to rid itself of the decline to which it has been led to at the exclusive responsibility of the present government," Ragoussis said.

[02] Initiatives to upgrade tourism

According to the minister, the goal for the new tourist year is mainly to narrow the gap existing between arrivals and tourist revenues and not so much a quantitative increase in tourist arrivals without a corresponding increase in revenues.

Spiliotopoulos further pointed out that the objective registration of results of Greek tourism, whose aim will be the precise recording of tourist arrivals and exchange revenues, in cooperation with the Bank of Greece, will begin in 2008.

Moreover, the minister added that by the end of 2008 the registration of accommodation capacity in Greece will be completed, with simultaneous certification involving "stars" and "keys."

On the question of the ministry's initiatives to promote the Greek tourist product, the minister placed emphasis on its extroversion, noting that this year the Greek Tourist Organisation (EOT) will participate in 125 international exhibitions (compared to 114 last year).

Greece's campaign abroad includes promotion in well-known international media (CNN, BBC World), while cooperation will begin with Travel Channel, Euronews, Eurosport, major news sites, prestige magazines, etc. He stressed that what is also of great importance is the agreement signed with Euroleague for the next four months during the European basketball championship matches. In the sector of investments, the total absorption of funds from the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) amounted to 86.6 percent in 2007.

Lastly, Spiliotopoulos will be leaving on Wednesday for Paris, where Greece is participating in the international "Spa and Wellness" exhibition. He will also chair a meeting of EOT's overseas bureau directors, which is taking place in the French capital.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos.

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