Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-03-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] World Water Day 2011

[02] Greek, German FMs discuss Libya

[03] OA, Cyprus Airways partner up 

[01] World Water Day 2011

March 28 has been designated by the United Nations as the World Day for Water, and despite the policies applied for conservation and qualitative upgrading of water resources, the outlook remains gloomy.(ANA-MPA)

Clean water is becoming a luxury item, and will become even rarer due to climate change, especially in the vulnerable region of the Mediterranean Basin.(ANA-MPA)

Developments in rainfall over the past 60 years have been studied by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) professor of hydrogeology Georgios Soulios, based on figures collected by the National Meteorological Service (EMY) and 13 stations throughout Greece.(ANA-MPA)

In recent years, rainfall has literally "gone mad", Prof. Soulios told ANA-MPA, noting that the reduction in annual rainfall ranges from 1mm in Athens to 8mm on the island of Corfu.(ANA-MPA)

The chief problem in Greece is pinpointed in the absence of water resource management practices and excessive consumption.(ANA-MPA)

"Ôhe more and heavier it rains, the more that rainfall is reduced with the passing of the decades," Soulios explains.(ANA-MPA)

Apart from the rate of rainfall, its distribution has also changed. More specifically, winter rainfall is on the decline, whereas it is on the rise during the summer when, however, the water evaporates on the surface due to high temperatures, and thus the underground water strata are not supplied.(ANA-MPA)

Greece has water reserves of approximately 30 billion cubic meters that flow both on the surface and underground. Of those, only 20 billion cubic meters are exploitable, of which 12 billion are surface waters and the rest underground waters, says Soulios.(ANA-MPA)

Regarding consumption, of the 10-11 billion cubic meters of water that are exploited in Greece, 80 percent goes to agriculture, 6 percent to industry, and the rest to urban consumption, he says.(ANA-MPA)

Also, of the 10-11 billion cubic meters of water consumed, 80 percent is from underground waters and only 20 percent from surface waters, such as dams, Soulios notes, adding: Consequently, we need to increase the projects regarding surface waters for greater exploitation of the waters, and a turn to alternative sources, such as desalinated water.(ANA-MPA)

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[02] Greek, German FMs discuss Libya

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Droutsas said he and Westerwelle analysed the current situation and developments in depth, and reiterated that Greece, in compliance with its obligations under the UN Security Council resolution on Libya, and with absolute respect to international law, is providing facilities of a supportive nature to friend and ally countries, but is not actively taking part in the operation with its own forces at this stage.(ANA-MPA)

Droutsas explained that, in the event that NATO reaches a decision for activation of the Alliance in imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, Greece will have a "limited participation", elaborating that this will comprise a frigate that is already in the region for other reasons, a helicopter and a radar aircraft.(ANA-MPA)

The Greek foreign minister ruled out any Greek participation with F-16 fighter planes, while he also stressed that there is no risk to Greece, and especially Crete, from Gaddafi's arsenal.(ANA-MPA)

The two ministers also discussed the matter of nuclear reactors, in the wake of the Japan disaster. The target, Droutsas said, is to push for a new inspection of all the nuclear facilities in Europe and to establish uniform and very high standards for nuclear plants in Europe.(ANA-MPA)

While in Berlin, Droutsas will deliver an address at an event organised by the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) on the economic and financial crisis and its impact on the EU at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation that will also be attended by SPD parliamentary group leader and former foreign minister Frank Walter Steinmeier and Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselborn.(ANA-MPA)

Droutsas will further take part in a meeting of the SPD parliamentary group at the Bundestag.(ANA-MPA)

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[03] OA, Cyprus Airways partner up

Under the agreement, signed by the chairmen of the two airlines, Yiannis Karadakas and George Mavrokostas respectively, the two airline companies will operate code-sharing flights. The partnership will begin March 27 with code-sharing flights connecting Athens, Rhodes, Heraklion (Crete) and Thessaloniki with Limassol and Paphos. The code sharing agreement will expand from April 15 covering all 38 destinations included in Olympic Air's and Cyprus Airways' flight schedule programs.(ANA-MPA)

The agreement also covers other sectors of operations, such as handling services, VIP lounges and more efficient management of airport infrastructure.(ANA-MPA)

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