Greek PM meets with Merchant Marine Minister and Shipowners over Finances and Piracy

Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis conferred on Friday with merchant marine minister Anastassis Papaligouras, and later received the presidium of the Union of Greek Shiowners (UGS).

Papaligouras told reporters afterward that the discussion focused on the impact of the global credit and financial crisis on the shipping sector, and the problem of piracy at sea.

The minister stressed that the safety of the crews and the ships was of grave concern, given that Greece is the world's number one maritime power, adding that Greece was a contributor to the EU's anti-piracy force (EUNAVOR) off Somalia for confrontation "of the anachronistic phenomenon of piracy in the 21st century".

The EU in November 2008 formally launched an anti-piracy security operation (EUNAVOR) off the Somali coasts, in its first-ever naval mission, dubbed Operation Atalanta, under which EU ships also help protect UN and other vessels transporting aid to the area.

They also discussed the issue of maritime training and ways of attracting youth to the shipping profession and incentives for keeping the graduates of the maritime academies in the profession.

The prime minister later received the UGS presidium, headed by the Union's president Theodore Veniamis, on a courtesy call.
Veniamis said in reply to press questions after the meeting that the repercussions from the crisis in Greek shipping were "controllable".
He also said that they had a "very good exchange of views" and also discussed the piracy problem.

Source:Ecoterra, July 5, 2009

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