Creation of new ministry hailed
New Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs, Islands and Fisheries Elpida Tsouri speaks yesterday at the ceremony for the inauguration of the new ministry, just after she and Minister Yiannis Diamantidis were sworn in before President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister George Papandreou. Tsouri, who hails from the island of Chios, said it was a historic moment, as the creation of the new ministry illustrates the increased interest and political will from the government in the merchant marine sector. Diamantidis promised to meet with all shipping bodies to achieve the targets of modernizing ports, improving naval education, boosting the Greek shipping register, developing the cruise market and the shipbuilding zone in Perama, as well as safeguarding the incomes of Greek fishermen.
