Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-30 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] IMF's irrational demands the big thorn in the negotiations, says SYRIZA spokeswoman Svigou [02] "Sense Zagori Project", an initiative to promote the region of Zagori [03] Greek PPI up 11.3 pct in February [04] Conditions in Moria hotspot improved, says ND's Varvitsiotis [05] Eighteeen migrants sent back to Turkey --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] IMF's irrational demands the big thorn in the negotiations, says SYRIZA spokeswoman Svigou SYRIZA party spokeswoman Rania Svigou on Thursday reiterated the government's intention to conclude as soon as possible the second review. Svigou, who was speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency radio "Praktoreio 104.9 FM", underlined that the main issue is the withdrawal of the IMF's irrational demands. Asked on main opposition New Democracy's stance which accuses the government of the delay, Svigou said that "On one hand ND asks to sign immediately, namely to accept 4.5 bln euro measures against the Greek people, and on the other hand it accuses the government". Referring to the labour relations which is the thorn in the negotiations, Svigou said that the protection of the labour relation remains the government's top priority. [02] "Sense Zagori Project", an initiative to promote the region of Zagori The National University of Athens and the Zagoria Excellence Network presented the launch of "Sense Zagori Project", a project that concerns the promotion and development of Zagori and the wider region. "Sense Zagori Project" aims to the total restart of the area and the local sustainable development through modern tools that seek: - the interconnection with the world wide web - the upgrade of the services offered - the increase of visitors The project will be implemented in two phases and includes a series of acts to render the village friendlier to the visitor. It is estimated that the "Sense Zagori Project" will increase visitors by 10 percent annually for the first five years while boosting employment and supporting youth employment. [03] Greek PPI up 11.3 pct in February Greek producer's price composite index in the industrial sector (measuring both the domestic and external markets) grew 11.3 pct in February this year, compared with the same month in 2016, after an 11.4 pct decline recorded in the 2016/2015 period, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Thursday. The statistics service, in a report, attributed this development to an 8.9 pct increase in the domestic market producer's price index and a 19.9 pct jump in the external market index. The composite index grew 1.0 pct in February from January 2016, after a 0.4 pct decline recorded in the same period last year. [04] Conditions in Moria hotspot improved, says ND's Varvitsiotis The conditions in Moria hotspot have improved, according to main opposition New Democracy (ND) shadow migration minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. ND official, who visited Moria hotspot on Wednesday acting in his capacity as rapporteur of the Council of Europe regarding the effect of the migrant flows on human rights. "We are also examining the conditiond in Italy and Turkey. We want to check the size of the improvement in the migrants and refugees' living conditions and the protection of the human rights, a year after the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement," said Varvitsiotis. [05] Eighteeen migrants sent back to Turkey Eighteen migrants, all men, were readmitted to Turkey on Thursday according to the EU-Turkey agreement. The migrants left from the port of Mytilene for Dikeli port with a vessel leased by Frontex . The three Pakistanis, 8 Bangladeshis , three Algerians, a Senegalese national, an Egyptian and an Iraqi national were delivered to the Turkish authorities who sent them to a camp in northwestern Turkey.