Residents ask to pull up Sea Diamond

A coordinating group of Santorini permanent residents visited yesterday the President of the Greek Republic, Mr Karolos Papoulias, to deliver him their request about pulling up Sea Diamond. The cruise ship that sank in April 2007 in the caldera of Santorini is an environmental bomb for the island, as it still lies in the bottom of the caldera and it may leave oils any day. This would mean the environmental and economical destruction of the island and a severe damage for Greece, which bases much of its tourism developement on Santorini. Mr Papoulias affirmed the residents that he understands their points and that he will also inform the European commissioner for the environment, Mr Stavros Dimas, for the matter.