Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-05 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] PM Tsipras visits Thessaloniki; focuses on social policy [02] Qatar is one of the safest countries, Greek Ambassador Orphanides tells ANA [03] Certain circles in Greece do not want the negotiation to close, State Min Vernadakis says [04] Revolutionary Struggle member Roupa arrested --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] PM Tsipras visits Thessaloniki; focuses on social policy Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday during his visit to Thessaloniki will place emphasis on the issue of social policy. At 12.00 he will visit the Association of Parents of Children with Down's Syndrome, a commitment he made a few days ago, when these children chanted the New Year carols. An hour later he will attend an event organised by TIF-Helexpo jointly with the Migration Policy Ministry and the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry on the hosting of refugees. On Friday he will attend the ceremony of Epiphany, at the port of Alexandroupolis. [02] Qatar is one of the safest countries, Greek Ambassador Orphanides tells ANA The Greek Ambassador to Qatar Constantinos Orphanides in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) referred to the relations of Qatar with Greece and the targets of the Greek embassy. "Qatar is one of the safest countries I have ever visited. No act of terrorism has been recorded and criminality is at low levels. The country has taken all the necessary measures to safeguard the security of the citizens," he underlined. "The peoples of Qatar, like other small Gulf states, have a very different mindset than those of their neighboring major Gulf countries. They are characterised by extroversion and modernization, they are in contact with other cultures and open to the assimilation of their features, particularly of the western culture. Perhaps it is because they are coastal peoples. Qatar in particular has used the great wealth it obtained from the huge oil and gas deposits for the country's modernization and cultural development. At the same time, it managed to create an harmonious coexistence between the indigenous and more than two million foreign citizens working here and come from countries of different cultural identities (Europe, Arab countries, Indian subcontinent Southeast Asia, Africa). Qatar has achieved a real multicultural harmony. Here they live, work and cooperate harmoniously," he added. [03] Certain circles in Greece do not want the negotiation to close, State Min Vernadakis says There are certain circles in the country that do not want the negotiation to close, State Minister Christophoros Vernadakis on Thursday said in statements to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency's radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM. He explained that the problem is a result of the IMF's lack of determination as to whether it will participate in the Greek programme, giving thus the possibility to German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to delay the conclusion of the programme review. Vernardakis stressed that the programme implemented by the government succeeded, as it is now in a position to return the surpluses to the society. [04] Revolutionary Struggle member Roupa arrested Pola Roupa, member of Revolutionary Struggle, was arrested early on Thursday at a home in the Attica region. Pola is the partner of Revolutionary Struggle member and prisoner Nikos Maziotis. Pola was at the house with her young child and a 25-year old woman when police raided.