Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 06-03-29

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK-ROMANIAN COOPERATION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

[02] INITIATIVE FOR BETTER BLOOD TESTS

[03] THE PRIME MINISTER IN ROME FOR THE EPP CONGRESS

[04] THE 28TH FURNIDEC OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

[05] EUROPEAN COMMUNIST AND LABOR PARTIES TO MEET IN ATHENS

[06] IN 60 YEARS THE NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE VISIBLE FROM GREECE

[07] ATTENTION TO THE REGIONS

[01] GREEK-ROMANIAN COOPERATION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Minister of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Prokopis Pavlopoulos signed a memorandum of cooperation with his Romanian counterpart Vasile Blaga in Bucharest yesterday.

According to Romanian news agency Rompres, Mr. Blaga stated after the signing of the memorandum that the two ministries wish to further strengthen the traditionally good bilateral relations between Greece and Romania.

The Romanian minister thanked Mr. Pavlopoulos for his active participation in the creation of the Black Sea Euro-region an initiative to materialize tomorrow at the port of Constanta.

On his part, Mr. Pavlopoulos referred to the prospects of common actions for the promotion of reforms in the sector of public administration and to a number of European community programs that could be undertaken jointly by the two countries.

Mr. Pavlopoulos stated that there are no magic solutions to the public administration problems and added that the individuality of each country should be taken under consideration in every reform effort.

He also underlined that it is very important to strengthen cooperation between local authorities in both countries at local administration representatives' level and referred to the illegal immigration problem, a major issue for Romania due to its geographical position.

[02] INITIATIVE FOR BETTER BLOOD TESTS

An initiative to eliminate the window period during which the HIV virus cannot be detected in blood donated for transfusions because there was not enough time for antibodies to be formed will be undertaken by Thessaloniki Ippokration Hospital blood donation department director Mr. Papagiannis.

The initiative follows the HIV infection of a 17-year-old girl suffering from Cooley's anemia.

The findings of a preliminary inquiry on the case are expected to be out soon.

[03] THE PRIME MINISTER IN ROME FOR THE EPP CONGRESS

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will be in Rome to attend the 17th European People's Party, EPP, Congress to take place on March 30-31 organized this year by the three Italian center-right parties, members of the EPP.

This year's congress coincides with the 30th anniversary of the founding of the EPP and delegates will elect new president, vice-presidents, general secretary and treasurer.

Over 800 representatives of 68 political parties from 35 European countries that are full members, associate members or have an observer status will attend the congress. Among those attending will be 15 European prime ministers.

According to a statement by the party of New Democracy, a political manifesto will be presented in the congress with the EPP priorities on issues faced by the EU, a number of resolutions as well as changes in the EPP founding charter.

[04] THE 28TH FURNIDEC OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

The 28th FURNIDEC exhibition opened in Thessaloniki today and will be formally inaugurated this evening by Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis.

This year's exhibition will target the furniture sector professionals and only on its last day of operation, on Sunday, April 2, will be open for the public.

The 28th FURNIDEC will cover a space of 18,000 square meters hosting a total of 250 exhibitors from Greece and nine more countries: Italy (formal state participation with 28 companies) India, Pakistan, Czech Republic, Turkey (formal state participation with 41 companies), Bulgaria, Romania, Egypt and Poland.

[05] EUROPEAN COMMUNIST AND LABOR PARTIES TO MEET IN ATHENS

The Greek Communist Party announced that it will be the host of the communist and labor parties meeting in Athens on April 8-9 on The Lisbon Strategy and the restructure of education systems - Struggle fronts and the response of the labor and communist movement.

In a statement issued by the Greek Communist Party is pointed out that it is the first time that European Communist and Labor political parties will discuss the changes taking place in the sector of education.

[06] IN 60 YEARS THE NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE VISIBLE FROM GREECE

Today's total solar eclipse has a special interest because for the first time after decades a total solar eclipse will be visible from a geographic area in Greece and particularly only from Kastellorizo, a tiny island in southeast Aegean, while it will be partially visible from the rest of the country.

The two previous total eclipses visible from Greece were recorded in 1870 and 1936. The next total eclipse visible from the country will take place in 2088.

Scientists and astronomy fans both from Greece and abroad descended on Kastellorizo to observe and photograph the rare and magnificent phenomenon.

In Kastellorizo will be dark for a few minutes. The phenomenon will begin approximately at 12:34 and end at 15:10, Greek time. The total eclipse itself will last only 3 minutes from 13:52 until 13:55, Greek time.

In the rest of Greece, people will be able to see the solar disc being partially covered by the moon (98% Rhodes, 96% eastern Crete, 84% Athens, 75% Thessaloniki).

[07] ATTENTION TO THE REGIONS

All government ministries will turn their attention to regional development, stressed Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in parliament in the debate on regional development taking place at his request.

The debate is held at political party leaders' level.

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