Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-03-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] HOC chief Kyriakou to meet with IOC President

[02] Athens condemns attempt on Rugova's life

[03] Concert to kick-off '2005 EU-Japan Year' in Greece

[04] Transport minister gives 'mini' overview of one year on the job

[01] HOC chief Kyriakou to meet with IOC President

Kyriakou will take the opportunity to brief Rogge on the HOC's goals for the next four years.

[02] Athens condemns attempt on Rugova's life

"The Greek government condemns every act of violence, particularly in such a sensitive region as Kosovo ... Greece is monitoring developments closely and with concern," alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said, in response to a press question.

Rugova was reportedly on his way to meet with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana at the strife-plagued province's parliament when the blast occurred off a street where the formerâs motorcade was passing.

[03] Concert to kick-off '2005 EU-Japan Year' in Greece

The duo concert featuring Junko Ueda, on traditional Japanese lute, and Wil Offermans on flute, is the evening's highlight, along with a presentation of "sh?my?", or Buddhist chanting, by students of the conservatory.

The entire event, held under the auspices of the Ambassador of Japan in Athens, Toshio Mochizuki, is part of an ambitious Europe-wide series of events aiming to "further contacts between people by promoting mutual interest in Japan and the European Union as partners".

According to a press release circulated by the Japanese embassy, 242 sister-city partnerships between Japan and the 25 EU member-states have been implemented over the past two decades, whereas 9,300 young adults from the EU 25 have traveled to most advanced country in the Far East through the JET programme.

Other scheduled events in Greece will be a Wadaiko performance (the art of Japanese drumming) and a Japanese film festival.

The Athens conservatory is located at 17-19, Vas. Georgiou II St. in the Greek capital's centre.

[04] Transport minister gives 'mini' overview of one year on the job

"We did well and we will do even better in the future," Liapis said. He emphasised that as far as mass transport in Athens is concerned, the basic rationale behind the measures implemented is to incorporate all means of mass transport in one cohesive urban transport network.

According to Liapis, the measures implemented have had positive effects since passenger traffic has increased. As a result, 41% of citizens use the public transport system on a daily basis. The goal is for one out of two Attica residents to use the public transport system by 2008.

The minister explained that the basic philosophy behind the urban transport system's upgrading is that the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway, the Metro, the suburban rail and the tram, which cover a total of 117 kilometres and account for 40% of daily travel within the mass transport system, constitute the system's 'core', while bus routes play a complementary role.

Liapis said that the number of passengers using buses has also increased thanks to the creation of seven new routes and stricter monitoring of bus lanes enabling buses to travel at faster speeds.

Regarding the ministry's future plans, Liapis said that a top priority was extending bus lanes by 13 km initially, adding an additional 500 new buses to the existing fleet by early 2006, and establishing time limits for loading and unloading of goods.

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