Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Commission asks Greece to undertake initiatives on EU migration policy in Balkans, Med region

[02] Greece-Germany cooperation in education, technology

[01] Commission asks Greece to undertake initiatives on EU migration policy in Balkans, Med region

Pavlopoulos told reporters after the meeting, which focused on migration policy issues, that the two sides' cooperation extended to two levels. The first level concerned the efficient implementation of Greek legislation on migration issues, while the second level concerned Greece's participation in the legislation being gradually formulated in the EU for the establishment of future regulations pertaining to migration.

"As you know, the European Union was late in formulating common regulations on migration. The problem is a big one and, naturally, the Community bodies are moving forward at a faster pace at this time. Greece is already participating, and will be participating, actively in this effort," Pavlopoulos said.

The minister thanked Frattini for his proposal that Greece undertake a more substantial and coordinating role on behalf of the EU -- regarding migration matters -- in the region of the Balkans and the Mediterranean.

"The migration issue is a common issue for all the EU countries, on the two bases we have put forward. In other words, on the basis that Greece and the other EU member countries must receive immigrants with conditions of legality and ensure for them all the rights provided under the law -- EU legislation as well as the individual (member states') legislations. We must not forget that Europe has a unique culture and a very big positive tradition on human rights issues. We must adhere to this for the immigrants as well. And, particularly, for the immigrants who live among us and work with us, and must also have the treatment they deserve. And chiefly, they must fully enjoy the rights due to them," Pavlopoulos said.

Frattini said his discussion with the interior minister had been "very positive and productive", and that he asked the Greek government to undertake initiatives aimed at supporting the European Strategy with respect to migration policy in the Mediterraenan region "which is important for Europe, and where Greece can play a very crucial role".

"I encouraged the interior minister to undertake initiatives so that Greece will be even more 'present' in the Mediterranean region, with respect to prevention of and the fight against illegal immigration, in (EU) relations with Turkey, which is a crucial partner and not only a candidate for accession. And also in the region of the Western Balkans, which is another important region for Europe and where, again, Greece can play a very imortant role. For example, by establishing 'Liaisons' (liaison officers) in countries such as Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, naturally, Albania," the Commissioner said.

"In this way Greece will back up the European Strategy. And I believe that our cooperation -- the EU's with Greece -- is becoming increasingly stronger," Frattini added.

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[02] Greece-Germany cooperation in education, technology

The two deputy ministers agreed on closer cooperation in the sector of energy, and focussed on knowhow in the field of alternative forms of energy.

Rachel, who is also a member of the German Bundestag's (parliament) Greek-German Friendship Group, also pledged to work for the strengthening of the relations between the two countries.

One initiative agreed, in the framework of strengthening the historic bonds between the two countries, is a joint visit by the two deputy ministers to Goettingen University, where renowned Greek mathematician Constantine Karatheodoris completed his graduate studies and held a lecturing position, and also the transfer of copies or originals of his work to the Karatheodoris Museum established in his honour by the Greek authorities in his Thrace, where his family originated from.

Karatheodoris (1873-1950) is known for his significant contributions to the theory of functions of a real variable, the calculus of variations, and measure theory, while his work also includes important results in conformal representations and in the theory of boundary correspondence. He is also credited with the theories of outer measure and prime ends, while he further gave a strict and general proof that no system of lenses and mirrors can avoid aberration, except for the trivial case of plane mirrors. Scholars have also acknowledged that the mathematical side of Einstein's physics theory was partially substantiated through Karatheodoris' work.

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