Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-15 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] US recognises Greece's special role, FM Kotzias says [02] SYRIZA parliamentary group solid, it will vote measures and offset measures, says Digital Min. Pappas [03] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos and Maltese Home Affairs Min Abela to visit Lesvos on Thursday, while 41 arrivals were recorded on Samos --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] US recognises Greece's special role, FM Kotzias says Greece's role in a fragile geopolitical circumstance and in a regional instability triangle as well as security issues in the Middle East, the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans dominated a meeting between Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and the National Security Advisor of the US President, Lieutenant Herbert Raymond McMaster, in Washington. Kotzias referred to Greece's significant role in the region and the initiatives taken to stabilize the climate. "We have set up a number of institutions and we have strengthened relations with countries such as Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. We have the quadripartite meetings in the Balkans as well as cross-border cooperation, while we are about to enhance cooperation with Georgia and Armenia and to showcase the special role that Greece can play in the region," the Greek Foreign Minister underlined. Moreover, Kotzias stressed that the US side recognised Greece's special role. [02] SYRIZA parliamentary group solid, it will vote measures and offset measures, says Digital Min. Pappas The negotiation for the second review will conclude soon, said on Wednesday Digital Policy Minister Nikos Pappas who is touring the region of Serres. Pappas also said that SYRIZA parliamentary group is solid and will vote measures and offset measures. The minister visited the sugar factory that operated in Serres and noted that the government is doing whatever possible to increase the cultivation of sugar cane in the area at a level that would allow the re-opening of the sugar factory. [03] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos and Maltese Home Affairs Min Abela to visit Lesvos on Thursday, while 41 arrivals were recorded on Samos European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos and Home Affairs and National Security Minister of Malta Carmelo Abela, who represents the country that holds the EU presidency, will visit on Thursday the island of Lesvos. The aim of the visit is to examine the conditions on the island as a result of the refugees flows. Greek Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas will accompany the foreign delegation.