Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-20 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Moscovici expresses hope that Eurogroup will signal swift conclusion of Greece's 2nd review [02] Trikala mayor welcomes U.S. ambassador to the city, shows tech, eco projects [03] Half-sunken passenger ferry 'Panagia Tinou' to be sent to Turkish scrap yard on Tuesday [04] Hellenic Post to celebrate World Poetry Day with new anthology of poems, collectible stamp --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Moscovici expresses hope that Eurogroup will signal swift conclusion of Greece's 2nd review BRUSSELS (ANA/ M. Aroni) Arriving for a Eurogroup meeting here on Monday, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici expressed hope that it would send a signal that Athens and the institutions were moving toward a swift conclusion of the second review. "Our enemy is uncertainty," he said, noting that uncertainty increased in Greece the longer that decisions were delayed, with investors waiting on the sidelines and growth remaining weak. For this reason, he added, it was necessary to move fast and complete the second review in order to show that Greece is now on a path toward growth and prosperity, with a more stable economy. Moscovici said there had been significant progress since the Eurogroup in February, especially after the last visit of the institutions' missions in Athens, which he said had allowed the two sides to come much closer. The Commissioner also noted that the Greek government had made up for the lost ground after the summer of 2015, voting and implementing reforms in many areas, including the pension system, the labour market and privatisations. There was now the start of a process that was "a success story," he added, and the completion of the second review was important since it would send a positive message to international investors to return to Greece. Regarding the IMF, Moscovici repeated that this has participated in the Greek programme from the start and will continue to do so. "We are working closely with the IMF in order to reach a comprehensive agreement with all sides," he said. [02] Trikala mayor welcomes U.S. ambassador to the city, shows tech, eco projects The use of technology by the city of Trikala, the municipality's economic and business performance and other regional activities were discussed in a meeting between city mayor Dimitris Papastergiou and the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, on Monday. Papastergiou presented initiatives of the municipality, such as the "project Asklipios" for the cultivation and use of medicinal herbs, combined with educational and alternative tourism, and the hot springs in Rizoma, a small town near Trikala. The mayor also told Pyatt Trikala's sister city is Tucson, Arizona, with which cooperation is expected to be renewed on October 23, 2019. The U.S. ambassador also attended a ceremony awarding certificates to 42 girls aged 10-14 who participated the "Code Girls 2.0", a web making program and is implemented by the nonprofit lab "Mataroa" and co-organized with the American embassy. The ambassador was accompanied by U.S. Consul General in Thessaloniki Rebecca Fong. [03] Half-sunken passenger ferry 'Panagia Tinou' to be sent to Turkish scrap yard on Tuesday Passenger ferry "Panagia Tinou" will be towed at a Turkish scrap yard on Monday morning as salvage operations by the competent company which lasted about three months have been completed. The ship half-sunk at the port of Piraeus in April 27, 2016, after it capsized and started taking in water. It had been docked since April 2015 when its operator Ventouris Sea Lines announced it was facing financial problems. Following a tender by Piraeus Port Authority (OLP), the work of water pumping, sealing the vessel and removal of the wreck was undertaken by company Greek ship-generated waste management company "Antipollution SA". It was built in 1972 by DCNS Brest shipyard in France and owned by operator Ventouris. [04] Hellenic Post to celebrate World Poetry Day with new anthology of poems, collectible stamp Hellenic Post (ELTA) is planning the publication of a new anthology of poems compiled by Greek poet Ilias Gris entitled "The Postman brings Letter Poems" to celebrate World Poetry Day on Tuesday, as well the issue of a collectible stamp. The new anthology includes the works of 160 poets that make either direct or indirect references to a postman. It will be presented at an event in the Old Parliament Building in central Athens at 19:30 on Tuesday. The event will be addressed by ELTA Board Chair Efrosyni Stavraki, the president of the Hellenic Authors' Society Dimitris Kalokyris and ERT President Dionysis Tsaknis. Speaking about the anthology will be literary critic Alexis Ziras and a number of poets will read poems included in the publication, accompanied by the L'Anima string quartet. The event will be broadcast live on the 'Third Programme' of ERT radio. Those attending will be able to buy the collectible stamp from a post office within the Old Parliament, where they can also have their copies of the anthology stamped with a Special Commemmorative Stamp to create a rare collectible item. The anthology will be sold exclusively by ELTA post office branches throughout the country.