Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cabinet to meet on Monday to discuss plan for changing Greece's production model

[02] Flying ships among Thessaloniki residents' 'dreams' for the city's public transport

[03] Lack of speed radar on Greece's highways 'not new', Toskas says

[04] Charity match between Olympiacos veterans and UNICEF Select team on Sunday

[05] DIGEA announces payment of 2nd installment for use of TV spectrum

[01] Cabinet to meet on Monday to discuss plan for changing Greece's production model

Speaking during the regular press briefing, he also announced that public debate on revising the Constitution will intensify over the coming days in order to prepare the relevant Parliamentary processes.

[02] Flying ships among Thessaloniki residents' 'dreams' for the city's public transport

These range from the purely fantastical to the downright practical while some smack of science fiction, such as the idea of replacing terrestrial transport with "flying ships" that pick up their passengers from elevated stations. More down to earth suggestions include night-time transport services, ticket machines that give change or express buses to carry commuters from the city centre to areas outside the city. Others are more whimsical, such as buses with free WiFi that play jazz and classical music, boat taxis in the bay or an app that lets passengers inform a bus driver they are running to catch a bus so that he or she might wait for them.

The initiative is finanaced by the EU research project Collective Innovation for Public Transport in European Cities (CIPTEC) and aims to improve city transport systems, making public transport more attractive and thus indirectly reducing traffic congestion and improving the urban environment for all, using ideas that come from all.

Naniopoulos, who coordinates the CIPTEC project, said that the site had 3,500 visitors and that 924 registered users had rated one or more of the ideas listed within. "Participation is quite satisfactory, as was determined at a meeting of the partners in the programme in Brussels," he noted. CIPTEC currently involves the collaboration of 12 entites in seven European countries.

"There are some truly interesting ideas. We prefer those that have a relatively low cost and are relatively simple to implement," he said, urging the public to continue submitting proposals until the end of March, when the campaign ends. All the ideas will then be assessed and the best will win prizes accompanied by gifts, such as a tablet, free travel cards and others.

[03] Lack of speed radar on Greece's highways 'not new', Toskas says

"The radar are not missing from national highways now - they have been missing for years. There is a real problem here and I can make it specific. In 2010, when the privatisation of the national highways was imminent, the radar were not installed along national highways as planned but along rural roads," he said.

According to the minister, the necessary funds to correct this were not currently available. "We are examining what can be done regarding the fixed radar systems. It is not that there is no radar, there are the portable radar guns," he said.

Toskas also revealed that authorities had identified the individual responible for a banner making insulting remarks in Russian about FC PAOK club owner Ivan Savvidis, raised during a game between PAOK and Iraklis on Sunday. As soon as the public prosecutor gave the order, he said, authorities were ready to proceed with further action.

He called the action "unacceptable" and noted that "at some point in football stadiums, another way of thinking must prevail, so that people can go to stadiums without fear and without such actions taking place."

[04] Charity match between Olympiacos veterans and UNICEF Select team on Sunday

The UNICEF Select Team will include journalists, police officers and lawyers but also some veteran international players, while the Olympiacos Piraeus team will include some of the star players of the past. Before the match begins, there will be a ceremony organised by Olympiacos to pay tribute to Greece's national UNICEF committee and the members of the Select Team.

[05] DIGEA announces payment of 2nd installment for use of TV spectrum

Digea said that it will continue to invest in further improvements to its broadcasting network.

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