Tag: greece

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Albanian PM thanks MBS for multimillion dollar fund

The two leaders also reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to boost cooperation in several fields including economy, politics, and infrastructure investment…reports Asian Lite News

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has thanked the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman for a multimillion dollar cash fund the Kingdom gave his country.

Prime Minister Rama met with Mohammed bin Salman during the crown prince’s visit to Greece on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Rama thanked Mohammed bin Salman for the Kingdom’s $50 million support and for the Public Investment Fund’s interest in investment opportunities in Albania worth about $200-$300 million, the Arab News reported.

The two leaders also reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to boost cooperation in several fields including economy, politics, and infrastructure investment.

And they explored potential cooperation in several regional and international issues of common interest.

They also discussed the latest regional and international developments, and efforts made in their regard, it was reported.

Earlier this week, Bajram Begaj, a retired military officer and politician, took oath as the 9th President of Albania.

In his first address in front of the lawmakers as the President, the 55-year-old declared that he will support and respect both the government and opposition’s work, calling for cooperation between political parties instead of conflict.

“I will carry out this mission above the parties. I will not remain neutral towards anyone who puts political interests above the nation’s interest and I will support and insist on the cooperation between all political forces,” Begaj added.

He urged political parties to “get away from the politics of confrontation and replace it with the politics of dialogue”.

“Unity is needed more than ever to ensure the vitality of our nation. Let us all together make our Albania even more beautiful, for it to be in the place where it belongs.”

Begaj was elected President on June 4.

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Ukraine carrier cargo plane crashes in Greece

Eyewitnesses saw the plane in flames crash in a cornfield and explosions followed on Saturday evening, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Greek media…reports Asian Lite News

A Ukrainian cargo plane with an eight-member crew on board crashed near Kavala city in northern Greece, Greek media reported.

The Antonov An-12 plane was on route from Serbia to Jordan as the pilot requested permission for an emergency landing and notified Greek authorities of failure in one of the engines, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported, citing sources from the Greek Civil Aviation Authority.

Eyewitnesses saw the plane in flames crash in a cornfield and explosions followed on Saturday evening, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Greek media.

A rescue operation was still underway with special units of disaster personnel approaching the site with precaution, given the yet unconfirmed information that the plane carried 12 tons of cargo including ammunition, ERT reported, citing sources in local authorities.

Power cuts have been reported in communities near the crash site, as the plane cut electric power cables before the crash, it added.

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Arab News

Iran warns Greece not to let 3rd party impact bilateral ties

Iran warns Greece not to let 3rd party impact bilateral ties

Iran has warned Greece that neither the US nor any other third party wishes well for Tehran-Athens relations, noting bilateral ties have always been based on mutual respect, official news agency IRNA reported…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Tuesday gave the warning at a weekly press conference, referring to the Greek recent “illegal” impoundment of a Russia-operated ship carrying Iranian oil cargo, Xinhua news agency reported.

Despite all diplomatic channels Tehran had activated, including a phone conversation Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias, Athens showed it attached greater importance to a third party’s order, said Khatibzadeh.

On Iran’s seizure of the Greek tankers in the Gulf, the Spokesman explained that the tankers had committed maritime violations in the Iranian territorial waters.

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He suggested the Greek government solve the issue through legal channels, saying the Iranian Foreign Ministry will help.

Dismissing worries about the Greek tankers’ crew members, Khatibzadeh said they are safe and in good health and in contact with their families.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps seized two Greek oil tankers in the Gulf on Friday, days after a Russia-operated ship was captured by Greece in its territorial waters and its Iranian crude cargo confiscated by the US.

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Saudi investment minister heads Greece delegation to bolster ties

During the visit, Al-Falih will meet with a number of government officials and executives of major Greek companies, and will participate in the fifth meeting of the Saudi-Greek Ministerial Committee and the Saudi-Greek Investment Forum…reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih will start an official visit to Greece on Sunday to head of a delegation of government officials, representatives of the private sector and businessmen.

The three-day visit aims to expand the strategic partnership and enhance investment and trade relations between the two countries, the ministry announced.

During the visit, Al-Falih will meet with a number of government officials and executives of major Greek companies, and will participate in the fifth meeting of the Saudi-Greek Ministerial Committee and the Saudi-Greek Investment Forum.

He will also conclude the work and activities of the Saudi-Greek Business Council, with the participation of the Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Federation of Greek Companies, which aims to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, address the challenges facing investors and exchange information on available investment opportunities.

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One killed as migrants trying to enter Greece through border river

One killed as migrants trying to enter Greece through border river

A woman was killed by gunfire as migrants and refugees were trying to enter Greece through the Evros river on the northern land border with Turkey, Greek authorities said…reports Asian Lite News

Greek police border guards retrieved the body from the water after five asylum seekers had reached the Greek side by boat, according to a press statement issued by the Citizen Protection Ministry on Sunday.

The Greek border guards were shouting to the group to return to Turkey when gunfire was heard and they also fired in the air, according to the Ministry.

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Among the survivors who said that they had paid smugglers in Istanbul 2,000 euros ($2,162) each to enter Greece is a minor, the statement added.

Over a million people fleeing war zones and extreme poverty have reached Greece, mainly from Turkey since 2015, Xinhua news agency reported.

Most continued their journey to other European countries until the closure of the Balkan route in 2016. Although the number of new arrivals dropped in recent years, still thousands every year risk their lives to reach Europe.

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-Top News COVID-19 EU News

Greece tightens Covid curbs

Health Minister Thanos Plevris recommended all travellers entering Greece to repeat tests for Covid-19 on the second and fourth day upon their arrival…reports Asian Lite News

Greece’s government has announced a new set of measures to contain the further spread of Covid-19 during the upcoming holiday season.

In the wake of the emergence of the Omicron variant, the government has decided the cancellation of all public festive events, the mandatory use of a mask indoors and outdoors, and additional protection protocols for travellers, Health Minister Thanos Plevris told a press briefing on Thursday.

He recommended all travellers entering Greece to repeat tests for Covid-19 on the second and fourth day upon their arrival, Xinhua news agency reported.

“These measures, which will be effective until January 3, are sufficient to celebrate Christmas and New Year, without posing risks to public health,” Greek national broadcaster ERT quoted him as saying.

A special body advising the government on the pandemic will make new recommendations next week for additional measures from early next year, depending on the course of the pandemic, the official added.

Greek authorities reported 5,641 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday and 69 deaths within 24 hours

ALSO READ: Greece sees rise in child poverty

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-Top News Europe

Greece renews pressure to return ancient sculptures

Britain maintains that Elgin acquired the sculptures legally when Greece was ruled by the Ottomans…reports Asian Lite News.

Greece is renewing a bid to seek the return of ancient sculptures removed from the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens more than 200 years ago from the British Museum, a government official said Monday.

Giannis Oikonomou, a government spokesman, told reporters the issue would be raised at a scheduled meeting in London Tuesday between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The marbles — 17 figures and part of a frieze that decorated the 2,500-year-old Acropolis monument — were taken by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, in the early 19th century. Britain maintains that Elgin acquired the sculptures legally when Greece was ruled by the Ottomans.

“The obligation to return the Parthenon sculptures is entirely up to the government of the United Kingdom,” Oikonomou said. He added that the Greek request for government-to-government talks on the issue was backed by the United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO.

Greece has said the new Acropolis Museum that opened in 2009 would be used to display the sculptures if they were returned.

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Eight countries involved in search and rescue drill off Cypriot coast

An emergency drill involving military personnel from eight countries was carried out off the southern coast of Cyprus, Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides announced…reports Asian Lite News

Military personnel participating in the drill on Tuesday, code-named “Nemesi 2021,” came from Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, Xinhua news agency reported.

Petrides explained that aim of the exercise, which is being coordinated by the Joint Search and Rescue Operation (MRCC) in the southern Cypriot city of Larnaca, was to improve procedures for dealing with emergency situations. These include anti-terrorism operations, search and rescue, and pollution of the marine environment, all within Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.

The military personnel were trained in dealing with a terrorist attack on a drilling platform, as well as in the search and rescue of people working on the platform.

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“This will be the eighth consecutive Nemesis exercise, which is based primarily on the level of cooperation and coordination among the participants,” Petrides added.

The drill is being conducted in several Cypriot off-shore fields, in which a handful of international energy companies have been licensed to carry out natural gas drilling. Diplomatic staff from the participating countries and officials from ExxonMobil, ENI and Total energy companies attended the launch of the exercise at JRCC’s (Joint Rescue Coordination Center) base.

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Abdullah bin Zayed meets FM of Greece

Abdullah bin Zayed meets FM of Greece

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Foreign Minister of Greece Nikos Dendias meet in Washington…reports Asian Lite News

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Foreign Minister of Greece Nikos Dendias, today reviewed the prospects of strengthening the strategic partnership ties between the two nations.

Abdullah bin Zayed meets FM of Greece

This came as the two top diplomats met today in Washington D.C., where they deliberated a number of regional and international issues of interest, including the latest developments in the eastern Mediterranean and the importance of strengthening peace and stability in the region.

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Sheikh Abdullah highlighted the steady growth in the UAE-Greece relations across various fields thanks to the strategic partnership and friendly ties between the two nations.

He underlined the UAE’s determination to advance bilateral cooperation across all fields to the best interest of the two countries’ peoples Attending the meeting was the UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba.

  • Abdullah bin Zayed meets FM of Greece
  • Abdullah bin Zayed meets FM of Greece
  • Abdullah bin Zayed meets FM of Greece
  • Abdullah bin Zayed meets FM of Greece
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-Top News Europe UAE News

UAE provides urgent aid to Greece

The UAE also assisted the efforts aimed at suppressing the fires, by deploying a helicopter to contain the wildfires on the borders of the Greek capital, Athens…reports Asian Lite News

The UAE, through its humanitarian arm, the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), is providing urgent aid to support civilians affected by wildfires in Greece.

The UAE also assisted the efforts aimed at suppressing the fires, by deploying a helicopter to contain the wildfires on the borders of the Greek capital, Athens.

The aid is upon the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and in implementation of the orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and with the monitoring of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the ERC.

In a few hours, an Emirati aircraft loaded with food, health supplies, children’s food supplements and firefighting materials, such as firefighting clothing, pumps, water hoses and relevant accessories, will leave the country to Greece.

Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary-General, said the directives of the UAE’s leadership underscore the country’s solidarity with the government and people of Greece in addressing the unprecedented wildfires in the country.

“This support highlights the UAE’s keenness to reduce the impact of the natural disaster taking place in Greece, as well as its unlimited solidarity with victims,” Al Falahi added, noting the ERC’s complete readiness to help in such situations.

Some of the aid materials and equipment was provided by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), he added, while pointing out that phase one of the campaign will focus on providing firefighting materials and shelter requirements, to be followed by other phases that will provide for the various needs of the Greek population.

The ERC is closely monitoring the humanitarian conditions in Greece and is working in coordination with relevant authorities to offer the best services to those affected by the disaster, he said in conclusion.

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