Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-25 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Former PM Papademos injured after explosion in his car [02] Tsipras meets with Trump, Merkel and EU, Canadian leaders on NATO sidelines --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Former PM Papademos injured after explosion in his car Former Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, his driver and one other person injured in a blast in central Athens were rushed to Evangelismos Hospital on Thursday. The explosion occurred while Papademos was riding in a car, on the corner 3rd September Street and Marnis in central Athens. He was admitted and is now undergoing surgery for injuries in the abdomen, while he has also sustained injuries to his legs. Sources said the former premier and his driver were taken to hospital in an EKAB ambulance. According to the first reports, the explosion was caused by a booby-trapped envelope that went off while the car was in motion. The initial images indicate that the car suffered major damage. There was also a second car escorting the former premier. Police have cordoned off the area. [02] Tsipras meets with Trump, Merkel and EU, Canadian leaders on NATO sidelines BRUSSELS (ANA/A. Lazou) - Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke at length with his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the NATO summit held in Brussels on Thursday. Earlier, the Greek prime minister also held brief meetings with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte and Canada's Justin Trudeau. Tsipras spoke with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and had an opportunity to express his condolences to British Prime Minister Theresa May for the terrorist attack in Manchester. The Greek premier then briefly met with U.S. President Donald Trump, shortly before the start of the summit meeting. During an earlier meeting with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama, Tsipras said that Greece attaches great importance to stability in the western Balkans and the region's European prospects. According to government sources, he stressed that nationalist practices and rhetoric in the wider region must be overcome in favour of democratic principles and the respect for international law. The Greek prime minister welcomed the resolution of the political crisis in Albania and the contribution made by all the political forces in the country in this direction. He voiced Greece's strong support for the reform process in Albania and the importance of the Greek ethnic minority's rights for Athens. According to the same sources, Tsipras and Rama both noted the historic, cultural and economic ties between Greece and Albania and said that Greek-Albanian relations were of a "strategic nature and importance." Discussing bilateral ties, they expressed full support for an initiative by the foreign ministers in the two countries to set up an "intensive talks" mechanism in order to further improve relations. Also noted during the meeting were the steps taken to integrate Albanian migrants in Greek society. Tsipras and Rama then referred to the important role of Greece in Albania's EU and NATO accession process and agreed to step up dialogue between Athens and Tirana regarding international organisations.