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Friday, 13 December 2024 | ||
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-07-15Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus FM meets with FM Venizelos in AthensANA-MPA -- Both Greece and Cyprus want to establish a "mechanism of continuous talks on the whole range of bilateral or multilateral relations", said government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos after a meeting with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in Athens on Monday.The statement was issued on the anniversary of a coup d'etat that ultimately led to the invasion and occupation of Cyprus by Turkish forces. Following a meeting the two ministers held in Nicosia a few days ago and preceding an upcoming EU conference on the future of Europe scheduled in Mallorca, Venizelos said they would be holding talks on a "regular and systematic" basis, while Kasoulides expressed the hope that cooperation between the two countries return to the very close relationship they had when Greece was helping Cyprus with its EU entry. Referring to the prime minister's upcoming official visit to the US on August 8, Venizelos said the Cyprus issue is always mentioned at any international meeting Greek officials have. Regarding Monday's anniversary, Venizelos referred to "bitter lessons of history" and Kasoulides expressed the hope that "the next generation not suffer from the mistakes of ours". [02] Transportation affected by 24-hour strike TuesdayThe Metro, electric railway and tram will operate normally on Tuesday, but the rest of mass transportation and flights will either go on shorter schedules or be cancelled, following a call for a general strike issued by the private and public sector employee unions GSEE and ADEDY over the new omnibus bill in Parliament that calls for transfers and gradual layoffs of civil service personnel.Transportation schedules for Tuesday are as follows: The suburban railroad will not run all day Tuesday, while the Metro will stop at Doukissis Plakentias station and not continue to the airport, which will be served by bus lines X95 (from/to Syntagma Square) and X97 (from/to Dafni station), running however only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (The section leading to the airport is run by the suburban railway, which is on strike.) Greece's umbrella trade union are protesting against the latest omnibus bill tabled in Parliament that legislates for prior actions and reforms demanded by Greece's creditors in return for further bailout loans. Both ADEDY and GSEE announced the strike on Tuesday, when the debate on the omnibus bill is set to begin, and a strike rally at Klafthmonos Square in central Athens. They will be joined by members of POE-OTA and the state health system employees union federation POEDHN, who have urged their members to participate in the Monday rally and Tuesday's strike action. A nationwide protest rally in Syntagma Square outside Parliament has been organised for 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, the day before the vote on the omnibus bill is scheduled to take place. This is to be followed by an all-night vigil and efforts are being made to organise a concert. On Wednesday, when the vote on the omnibus bill is to take place, there will be a protest rally and a march to Parliament. [03] Cyprus FM meets with FM Venizelos in AthensANA-MPA -- Both Greece and Cyprus want to establish a "mechanism of continuous talks on the whole range of bilateral or multilateral relations", said government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos after a meeting with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in Athens on Monday.The statement was issued on the anniversary of a coup d'etat that ultimately led to the invasion and occupation of Cyprus by Turkish forces. Following a meeting the two ministers held in Nicosia a few days ago and preceding an upcoming EU conference on the future of Europe scheduled in Mallorca, Venizelos said they would be holding talks on a "regular and systematic" basis, while Kasoulides expressed the hope that cooperation between the two countries return to the very close relationship they had when Greece was helping Cyprus with its EU entry. Referring to the prime minister's upcoming official visit to the US on August 8, Venizelos said the Cyprus issue is always mentioned at any international meeting Greek officials have. Regarding Monday's anniversary, Venizelos referred to "bitter lessons of history" and Kasoulides expressed the hope that "the next generation not suffer from the mistakes of ours". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |