Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Representatives of institutions in Athens; to meet with Finance and Economy Ministers

[02] Idomeni closed for third consecutive day; 13,000 refugees waiting to cross the border

[03] Two ferries with more than 670 refugees arrive at Pireaus on Wednesday

[01] Representatives of institutions in Athens; to meet with Finance and Economy Ministers

Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and Economy Minister George Stathakis will meet in the afternoon with the representatives of the institutions.The negotiations will focus on the new tax system, the creation of a privatisation fund, the new social security system, the fiscal gap and the non-performing loans.

The Greek side wants the review to complete within March or early April and the discussion for the debt relief to start as soon as possible.

[02] Idomeni closed for third consecutive day; 13,000 refugees waiting to cross the border

Approximately 13,000 persons are currently at Idomeni camp waiting for the crossing to open that will allow them to continue their trip to northern Europe.

Meanwhile, the condition in Idomeni camp is very bad due to the heavy rain that was falling in the last days and the refugees tents are soaked and the area is full of mud.

[03] Two ferries with more than 670 refugees arrive at Pireaus on Wednesday

More specifically, on board of "Ariadni" were 50 persons from Chios and 479 from Mytilene.

"Blue Star 2" is expected to arrive to the port later in the day carrying 144 refugees and migrants from Dodecanese islands (74 from Rhodes and 70 from Kos).

According to the data of the Piraeus Port Authority, 3,070 refugees and migrants are temporary hosted within the passengers stations. One of them, at the Gate E-2, is completely saturated with people, that many tents needed to set outside the premises.

Red Cross personnel is expected to distribute food within the day and also on Wednesday is planned to become also operational the dispensary set by the Piraeus Medical Association.

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