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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-22Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Molyviatis attends int'l conference focusing on IraqBRUSSELS (ANA) -- Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis attended an international conference here on Wednesday focusing on the search for a political solution in strife-torn Iraq, a conference attended by some 80 countries along with various international organisations.The conference was held under the auspices of the European Union and the United States. According to Molyviatis, security is the number one priority, an issue that also necessitates support by Iraq's neighbors. "This isnāt only in Iraq's best interests, but (in the best interests) of the entire region, one of the most sensitive in the world," he said. [02] Tourism minister inaugurates new GNTO office in BeijingBEIJING (ANA - K. Halkiadakis) Greek Tourism Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, currently in China on an official visit, on Wednesday inaugurated new offices of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) in Beijing.During a speech, he referred to his contacts with Chinese officials and said that he expected Greece and China to sign a bilateral agreement for cooperation in tourism soon. Among the issues to be resolved is that of air transportation, for which the head of the GNTO is currently in talks with Air China. The minister also stressed that problems faced by Chinese nationals seeking a visa for Greece were now a thing of the past, with visas now issued within 24 hours. During his stay in Beijing, Avramopoulos has also appeared on one of the most popular radio shows of the city and has been interviewed by its largest English-language TV channel. In a press conference for Greek journalists, the minister criticised those making dire predictions about tourist arrivals in 2005 and stressed that the figures for tourist traffic were currently positive. He also slammed those businessmen that were "stuck in the past" and moaned about falling tourist numbers without making efforts to upgrade their product, comparing them to businesses that had adapted to the new situation and enjoyed full capacity until October. Earlier on Wednesday, Avramopoulos inaugurated the international tourism trade fair BITE that is taking place in Beijing, with Greece as the featured country. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |