Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-01 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Migration issue is Maltese presidency's priority, PM Muscat tells Tsipras [02] Athens Science Festival to be held in Technopolis --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Migration issue is Maltese presidency's priority, PM Muscat tells Tsipras "Europe needs union, cohesion and solidarity," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday said welcoming the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the Maximos Mansion. "I want to welcome you to Athens once again. I am looking forward to working with you; we are facing a lot of challenges", Tsipras said and added: "Your presidency coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty and believe that it is this one opportunity to convey our European vision to our citizens. And I believe that we can work together to convey the positive signals for our common future, positive signals to our citizens why Europe needs union, cohesion and solidarity." On his part, Muscat said: "It is a great pleasure for me to be back here in Athens. Ôhis is the third month of our presidency and we are trying to give a European perspective as well as a Mediterranean one. Moreover, we have started an important discussion on migration. What we started a month ago with the Conference of Mediterranean countries has already brought some positive results. And this is not a closed club. We have communicated all these to the rest of Europe. We are trying to discuss many issues. I hope this is what we will do in Rome, and I am sure that we will lay the foundations for the future. The European Commission should give guidance on our future in Europe and our strategy for dealing with the Brexit as well as other very important issues such as migration. We have already made progress on certain issues. Of course we were divided over the migration issue, but we have launched an important debate on the issue. I also want to discuss it with you. Although we have a common understanding about these things, we must talk over our common positions and how we can make progress in these six months of our presidency." [02] Athens Science Festival to be held in Technopolis The Athens Science Festival returns to Technopolis, Athens, for the fourth consecutive year, with the title "Shaping our future". During the Athens Science Festival, visitors will have the opportunity to attend exhibitions, screenings and thought-provoking lectures and debates by renowned Greek and foreign scientists and take part in workshops, various educational activities and educational games. The Athens Science Festival is jointly organised by the educational organisation "Science Communication – SciCo", the British Council, the Technopolis City of Athens Industrial Gas Museum, the Onassis Scholars' Association and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, in collaboration with a variety of academic, research and educational institutions. Since its first organisation in 2014, the Athens Science Festival managed to establish itself as one of the biggest celebrations of science and technology in Greece, exceeding 33,000 visitors every year.