Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-04-19

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Commission President Barroso visits 'Technology on Land, Sea' exhibition in Athens

[02] Gov't setting up farm growth centres

[03] Radiothon Tuesday for UNICEF immunization drive

[04] Three arrested, 416 kilos of cannabis seized in Thessaloniki

[01] Commission President Barroso visits 'Technology on Land, Sea' exhibition in Athens

Barroso, who was greeted at the entrance to the exhibition by a small robot in English, expressed enthusiasm over Greece's substantial investments in research and technology.

The Commission president noted that the Lisbon Strategy placed geat emphasis on science, technology, research and innovation, factors which he said contributed to the growth of the economies of the EU member states, and expressed pleasure that Greece was headed in that direction.

Barroso explained that most of the entrepreneurial projects were financed by the European Union and the Greek authorities, adding that such an investment in the future was a good destination for the taxpaying citizens' money.

"You have had good proof that the Community funding is being put to good use, Sioufas told Barroso.

He added, to waiting reporters, that the Commission president had had the opportunity to visit Greece's research centres and the enterprises that were collaborating with them, their performance, and how many things research and technology could today offer the country, and the entire world.

Also accompanying Barroso on the tour were development deputy ministers George Salagoudis and Yannis Papathanasiou, development secretary general Nikos Stefanou, secretary general for research and development Prof. Yannis Tsoukalas, and special secretary for competitiveness Spyros Efstathopoulos.

The exhibition is organised by the development ministry (General Secretariat for Research and Technology and the Special Secretariat for Competitiveness) within the framework of events marking the "Year of Competiveness 2005".

The event includes exhibits by the country's research and technology centres, which fall under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, as well as centres overseen by the agricultural development and foodstuffs ministry, and the Hellenic Meteorology Institute, which is supervised by the development ministry, in addition to private sector companies.

On display at the entrance to the Zappeion is the National Centre for Marine Research's bathyscaphe 'Thetis' (with its robot), the first netrino telescope in the world, and the pontoon of the 'Poseidon' system -- a network of oceanographic observation buoys/sensors.

The exhibits are the results of research and technology programmes materialised in the framework of the Third Community Support Framework's (CSF) 'Competitiveness' and 'Information Society' operational programmes, and were co-financed by Community and national resources.

Barroso will also meet later in the day with main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou at a downtown Athens hotel, according to party press release on Sunday evening.

[02] Gov't setting up farm growth centres

Agricultural Development and Food Minister Evangelos Basiakos told a news conference on Monday that one centre would open in each prefecture, employing a nationwide total of 325 farming specialists.

The centres, which are to fall under the jurisdiction of central regional authorities, will provide scientific, professional and technological support for farmers, the minister said.

One of many services will be information about type, variety and quality of crop, he added.

[03] Radiothon Tuesday for UNICEF immunization drive

The radiothon will take place between 6:00 and 20:00 on Tuesday, while participating stations include the state radio channel NET 105.8 and ERA regional stations, in collaboration with the private radio station Antenna, Alpha, Athina 984, Flash and dozens of others around the country.

UNICEF's special target for this year is to raise money for vaccines to immunize 100 million children in Africa against the polio virus.

According to UNICEF, its immunization programmes help save the lives of three million children every year, while up to 5,500 children around the world die every day of diseases that could have been prevented with an inexpensive vaccine.

Members of the public wishing to make a donation can make a deposit in special bank accounts opened by the following high-street banks:

National Bank of Greece: 169/480020-64

Emporiki Bank: 031/ 80191081

Agricultural Bank of Greece: 017 04 004416-70

Alpha Bank: 115 00 2002 017649

Piraeus Bank: 5049-022842-011

Citibank: 55 02 346484

Nova Bank: 519829

HSBC: 002-066694-130

Attica Bank: 069/54799691

ASPISBANK: 101-03-0006583

Alternatively, listeners can phone in and make their donation during the radiothon at the number 210-95 56 400

[04] Three arrested, 416 kilos of cannabis seized in Thessaloniki

Authorities were led to the drug haul after arresting two foreign nationals, aged 22 and 24 respectively, who were caught carrying three packages of cannabis weighing 1,006 grammes and 2.4 grammes of heroin in their car.

They confessed to picking up the drugs at the factory in Neohorouda from two other men, who managed to escape arrest and are now being sought.

After a search, police found 416 kilos of cannabis divided up into 417 packages within a tank at the factory, while they have also arrested the owner and are investigating his possible involvement in the ring.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article