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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-03-27Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM meets ministers, MIG's VgenopoulosPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday received Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis and the executive vice-president of Marfin Investment Group (MIG) Andreas Vgenopoulos, whose group recently made a successful bid to buy Greece's ailing national carrier Olympic Airways."We discussed issues concerning the economic crisis that is now rocking all of Europe, while we specifically discussed the issue of air transport," Hatzidakis said after the meeting. The minister confirmed that the talks had also been about OA, adding that the airline was making a new start and "turning a new page in the air transport sector". "We believe that what happened with Olympic is a step forward and points the way for continuing structural changes". Vgenopoulos, on his part, said that the prime minister had invited him to take part in a discussion that he found very interesting. "We discussed issues relating to Olympic Airways, air transport, tourism and matters concerning the economy, which is at a very difficult conjunction". Talks with agriculture minister Earlier on Friday, Karamanlis also met agricultural development and foods minister Sotiris Hatzigakis, who briefed the premier on progress in the developmental program for the Greek countryside. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Hatzigalis noted that the "Alexandros Baltatzis" developmental program for 2007-2013 was being updated and "rekindled" for that purpose, The minister said that subsidies, support and indemnities in relief will be reaching Greek farmers by the summer, adding that these would assist more than half a million Greek farmers. Hatzigakis also briefed Karamanlis on a process of national dialogue with farmers now underway, which was urgently bringing the problem with agriculture back to the forefront. The problem, he explained, was both European and international, while adding that the national agricultural policy council would be restructured through the national dialogue aimed at participatory democracy and involving farmers in the solution of issues that concern them. Among the prime minister's other engagements on Friday were a meeting with former minister Marietta Yiannakou and attending a ceremony where world-renowned actress Irene Papas received the newly-established award "Internationally Recognised Greek Men and Women" from the Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarianism and Democracy. [02] Irene Papas awardedThe Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarianism and Democracy's newly-established ?Internationally Recognized Greek Men and Women? Award was received by world-renowned actress Irene Papas during a special ceremony on Friday, which was attended by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, former prime ministers Costas Simitis and Constantine Mitsotakis, former Parliament Presidents Apostolos Kaklamanis and Anna Benaki-Psarouda and many MPs.The event coincided with the World Theatre Day, and presenting her with the award Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas stressed that ?it expresses the individual and collective wish of the Greeks to honor Irene Papas,? who was established internationally as a great Greek actress, being described as ?the incarnation of the womanâs soul in its most profound expression?. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |