Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-02 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] President Pavlopoulos to open the Delphi Economic Forum [02] ND's Koumoutsakos meets European Parliament President Tajani [03] Five metro stations closed on Saturday and Sunday [04] Migrants and refugees sent back to Turkey [05] No metro, tram on Friday due to 24h strike of employees --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] President Pavlopoulos to open the Delphi Economic Forum Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos on Thursday will open the Delphi Economic Forum to be held on March 2-5 at the European Cultural Centre of Delphi. The forum aims to identify the main global trends, assess their implications and review the resulting challenges and policy options confronting decision-makers of the wider Eastern Mediterranean Region. It will also focus on Greece's need for structural reforms and new leadership strategies, which will result in a new model of governance. More than 250 leading personalities will attend the forum that will focus on 41 issues regarding recent developments in the world, Europe and our country. The forum will take place with the participation of senior EU officials and international organizations, major think-tanks, current and former ministers, former prime ministers and very important representatives of domestic and international academic community. [02] ND's Koumoutsakos meets European Parliament President Tajani Main opposition New Democracy's shadow minister for foreign policy George Koumoutsakos on Thursday met with the president of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani. According to the Athens Macedonian News Agency's sources, Koumoutsakos briefed Tajani on the latest developments in the Aegean and referred to Turkey's provocations that have caused an intense climate in the vulnerable region of the eastern Mediterranean. "Partners and allies must put pressure on Ankara in order to abandon that dangerous practice. The European Parliament as the main democratic institution of the European structure has the responsibility to send clear political messages to Turkey," Koumoutsakos underlined. They also discussed the proposal of the European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker to strengthen unity in the EU as well as the need to improve the common security and defence policy. [03] Five metro stations closed on Saturday and Sunday The metro stations Aghios Antonios, Alimos, Elliniko of line 2 and Ambelokipi and Halandri of line 3 will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday for works to install the new automated ticket barriers. While the work is taking place, trains will pass through the above stations without stopping. [04] Migrants and refugees sent back to Turkey Seventeen migrants and refugees were readmitted to Turkey on Wednesday and Thursday according to EU-Turkey agreement. Seven Syrian nationals left from Mytilene airport for Adana on Wednesday while 10 people left from Mytilene port on Thursday with destination the port of Dikili, Turkey. The readmission process was conducted by the Greek authorities in cooperation with Frontex. [05] No metro, tram on Friday due to 24h strike of employees Workers on Athens fixed-rail transport systems (tram, metro and Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway) will hold a 24-hour strike on Friday in protest against legislation that hands over the commercial exploitation of STASY fixed-rail transport stations and premises to the Athens urban transport organisation OASA. According to fixed-rail transport unions, the change in the law will significantly reduce STASY's revenues and cause massive and irreparable harm by depriving it of legal income that undermines its public-sector nature.