Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-04 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Bill on space policy to be tabled in parliament in coming days, says minister [02] Greek tourism organization eyes Austrian market with Kythira promotion [03] Private sector arrears to the state up in March --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Bill on space policy to be tabled in parliament in coming days, says minister A draft bill on the government's space policy will be submitted to parliament in the coming days, Digital Policy, Media and Telecommunications Minister Nikos Pappas said on Thursday, speaking to an event held at the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Athens. "It is time to think about the country's long-term course," he said at the event was titled "Challenges and opportunities in the Space Sector: Education, Research, Technology, Applications", adding that what is missing is coordination. Pappas said the public consultation on the bill, which has been concluded, was widely accepted from a large section of the scientific and business world and has set the bar high. He said the ministry is open to suggestions and ideas in "achieving the pursued objectives". After the bill is approved, Greece will launch the satellite HELLAS SAT3, which will contribute considerably to the utilization of many applications in space science relating not only to defence and security but also to businesses and the daily lives of citizens. [02] Greek tourism organization eyes Austrian market with Kythira promotion VIENNA (ANA/D. Dimitrakoudis) - The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) completed a promotion of Kythira to Austrian journalists in the last few days, hoping to boost tourism to the small island lying opposite the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. Journalists specializing on tourism from Kronen Zeitung, Kleine Zeitung, Kurier, Die Presse, Woman and the oe24.at visited and toured the island in an event organized by GNTO, in cooperation with the municipality and Aegean Airlines. According to GNTO's office in Austria, this promotion to the wider Austrian readers and viewers will help include the island in the packages offered by the country's travel agencies, but also those in other central European countries. Kythira are an ideal destination for alternative tourism, offering activities such as trekking, diving, canyoning, yachting etc., which combined with the local gastronomic tradition form a complete travel proposal that corresponds fully to the profile of the Austrian tourists, the office said. [03] Private sector arrears to the state up in March Private sector's arrears to the state grew by 658 million euros in March to a total of 3.277 billion euros so far this year, but the growth rate of new arrears slowed compared with February, the Independent Authority of Public Revenue said in a report released on Thursday. Existing arrears (accumulated by the end of 2016) totaled 91.030 billion euros, creating a total of 94.307 billion euros at the end of March. The number of debtors to the state totaled 3,974,364 at the end of March, from 4,052,270 in February.