Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis, Berlusconi discuss illegal migration

[02] Papoulias meets Special Olympics Hellas President

[01] Karamanlis, Berlusconi discuss illegal migration

"The European Union must take action for the solution of problems shared by both countries," Karamanlis stressed.

Greece and Italy were already cooperating closely and had secured the inclusion of the points that interested both countries in the joint communique at the last European Summit, the Greek premier added.

Karamanlis said that the two main issues discussed with Berlusconi were the signing of re-admission agreements with the countries immigrants originate from and strengthening the EU's border agency Frontex.

Energy issues were also discussed, especially the progress made in the two major projects currently underway, the South Stream and the Turkish-Greek-Italian (TGI) natural gas pipelines.

"The agreement signed just yesterday between Greece and Bulgaria for an offshoot of TGI gives this project even greater importance," the Greek prime minister underlined, adding that the dinner with Berlusconi afterwards would give them the opportunity to discuss issues relating to the Union for the Mediterranean and the western Balkans.

The Italian premier underlined the excellent relations between Italy and Greece during his statements and said that the nine billion euros in trade transactions between the two countries can definitely increase further.

He also referred to the possibility of developing joint holiday packages in Greece and Italy that might attract visitors from the Far East, in particular.

On illegal immigration, Berlusconi insisted on the need to make the EU the main reference point of efforts and for action to sign re-admission treaties with African countries.

[02] Papoulias meets Special Olympics Hellas President

Despotopoulou underlined the support expressed by President Papoulias, who was the first to sign up as a volunteer for the international event to be hosted in Greece in 2011, leading the way to other 4,750 applications by volunteers.

President Papoulias expressed special interest in the "Polis Amphitryon" programme concerning the hosting of 10,000 athletes and their escorts from 185 countries in 80 Greek cities, a few days prior to the opening of the games.

The President of the Republic confirmed that his home town Ioannina, northwestern Greece, will sign up to the hospitality programme on Sept. 17.

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