Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-04-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Govt on 4th CSF program

[02] Papoulias visits Marioupolis

[03] Souflias on National Town Plan

[01] Govt on 4th CSF program

In an even held in Athens, Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said the information campaign, which covered the whole Greek region, aimed at offering detailed information to local agencies and enterprises over the targets and actions of the program, and for new prospects offered particularly for regional Greece.

The Greek minister said local agencies, enterprises and citizens had the opportunity to express their views over a more efficient use of available EU funds. Alogoskoufis said 82 pct of the program, worth 39.4 billion euros, was earmarked for regional Greece. "The country is changing gear," Alogoskoufis said, noting that emphasis would be given to improving business activity, education, adopting new technologies, innovation, protecting the environment and completion of a wider network of infrastructure projects.

"With the completion of the program, the country would have made a giant step towards the future," Alogoskoufis said.

Yiannis Papathanasiou, Economy and Finance Deputy Minister, addressing the event, said the government's goal was not to offer money but to ensure that the country would be able to produce more national wealth and value for all citizens.

[02] Papoulias visits Marioupolis

?It is a very moving day with great messages for Hellenism," Papoulias, who is on the second day of his visit to Ukraine, told the expatriates at the headquarters of the Federation of Greek Associations of Ukraine.

Welcoming the president, who was surrounded by boys and girls with Greek costumes, as well as by the elderly of Azov, the President of the Greeks of Ukraine, Alexandra Protsenko stated that the expatriates ?are not searching to migrate, but with the assistance of Greece, to continue to live there where they were born.?

Papoulias called on the Greek universities to work more intensively ?in order for there to be full registration not only of the language, but also all the other cultural elements of Hellenism of the Sea of Azov and of Crimea,? and also on Greek companies and particularly banks to examine more specific steps, which could contribute to the development of the region.

Later, Papoulias inaugurated the mansion ?Meotida?, which will operate as a Cultural Centre of the Greek community of Marioupolis and constitutes a donation by the company ?Michaniki?, the founder of which is Prodromos Emfietzoglou, who was also present at the ceremony.

[03] Souflias on National Town Plan

The minister said that "following a systematic and laborious effort, as well as substantive consulting at many levels, the time has come at last for the country to acquire integrated town planning."

Souflias stressed that "the submission of the National Town Plan in Parliament constitutes part of an overall national programme on Town Planning, that also includes a number of Special Town Plans, that are essential for the environment and the country's development. Special Town Plans have already been prepared for renewable energy sources, tourism, industry and the coastal and mountain region."

The minister added that "the completion of national town planning constitutes one of the most important structural changes that have taken place in the country in the past decades. It is a great reform that will contribute decisively to the integrated and sustainable development of Greece."

Souflias explained that National Town Planning and the special plans are the most important "umbrella" for the protection of the environment and, from now on, one will be aware of what he can do and where and all the activities will obey rules that will be known in advance.

He further said that the goal of National Town Planning, having a 15-year span, is integrated space development and the sustainable organising of national space, that promotes balanced social and economic cohesion, the protection of the natural and cultural environment and competitiveness.

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