Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-19 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] President Pavlopoulos meets with EU Commissioner Canete [02] PASOK is ND's subsidiary, says Centrists Union leader Leventis [03] Four metro stations to remain closed on Saturday and Sunday [04] 10,956 refugees on the northern Aegean islands; 20 arrivals recorded in the last 24h --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] President Pavlopoulos meets with EU Commissioner Canete President of Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos met on Thursday with visiting European Commissioner for Climate and Energy Miguel Arias Canete at the presidential mansion. Pavlopoulos said to the European Commissioner that Greece supports and will continue to support the European policy under his responsibility and made a special reference to three sectors. The first is the completion of the domestic energy market, the second the reduction of EU energy dependence and the third the protection of the environment and the climate change. On his part, Canete thanked Pavlopoulos for the warm reception and said that "the Commission is totally aware of Greece's fiscal and economic conditions adding that they will continue to support Greece's efforts for stability". He underlined that "energy is a sector that can assist Greece because it can bring investments, support growth and employment". Referring to the renewable energy sources in Greece, he said that there is huge potential "Greece can operate as a very important energy hub due to its strategic position" he said adding that "the European Commission is willing and ready to cooperate with Greece to take advantage of these potentials. The Commission takes a step forward and proposes the establishment of an energy dialogue between the Greek government and the European Commission". The discussion will focus on Greece's development into a regional energy hub for natural gas and electricity matters on the total development of Greece's dynamic in issues of energy and renewable energy sources and finally on the safeguarding of the implementation of European Union's legislation. Finally, Canete underlined that "we will facilitate the access to funding and this is the role of the Strategic Investments Fund that we have formed in the European Union. I hope that all these will become feasible and with Greece's steps with aim the reforms in the energy sector. We will do whatever possible to support investments, works and employment in the Greek economy". [02] PASOK is ND's subsidiary, says Centrists Union leader Leventis Centrists Union leader Vassilis Leventis stated on Thursday that he disagrees with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' actions and called PASOK "Mr Mitsotakis' (Kyriakos, New Democracy leader) subsidiary in an interview on Thursday with Athens Macedonian News Agency's radio "Praktoreio 104.9FM". Leventis expressed his certainty over New Democracy and PASOK's cooperation after the next elections. Referring to the second review of the Greek programme he said that the issue is economic but the prime minister wants to makes it political to deceive again the foreigners and supported that it is dangerous even for early elections. [03] Four metro stations to remain closed on Saturday and Sunday The Athens metro stations Attiki and Akropolis of line 2 and the stations Megaro Moussikis and Ethniki Amyna of line 3 will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday for technical works referring to the installation of the new automatic ticket checkers. Trains will pass through these stations without stop. The station Attiki of line 1 will operate normally. [04] 10,956 refugees on the northern Aegean islands; 20 arrivals recorded in the last 24h A total of 20 migrants and refugees arrived on Wednesday on Lesvos while no arrivals were recorded on Chios and Samos. Police said that on Thursday 10,956 persons that have applied for asylum and their request have been not examined yet remained stranded on the islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos.