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Thursday, 21 November 2024 | ||
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-04-08Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Negotiations for first program review to be concluded soon, gov't sources sayNegotiations for the first program review will be concluded soon as it is the desire of all sides to reach an agreement, according to government sources.The same source said that Greece has gained ground in tax and social security issues and opposed to additional measures. They also pointed out that everyone knew the July agreement would bring measures of 5.4 billion euros in a three-year period (until the end of 2018) adding that the pending measures are estimated at 2.6 billion euros and need to be implemented in the next 30 months. [02] Greece to turn page after program review, gov't vice president Dragasakis saysThe government is determined to conclude the program review in a way that will allow Greece to turn the page and speed up the government work, government vice president Yiannis Dragasakis said during a book presentation.Dragasakis stated that April is a critical month as the Greek program review has and will be concluded and outlined the five most important issues; the program review to be concluded this month, to be feasible and realistic, to be accompanied by adequate financing, to provide for a clear framework in respect to debt settlement and be complete in order to remove uncertainty. He also underlined that the government has implemented almost all fiscal measures and added that the successful outcome of the program review is everyone's responsibility. He also referred to the refugee crisis that Greece has to deal with. As he said, it is a great problem that we face as a society in terms of solidarity and humanism. The government vice president expressed optimism that the problem will appease in the current month. "The EU-Turkey agreement will be tested in this period and we hope that the latest reduction in refugee flows is not temporary," he stressed adding that vigilance is required. "We cannot relax as long as the borders are closed, as long as Europe does not actively show solidarity, at least all countries, and as long as the roots of the problem - war, instability and crises in the region - continue to exist." [03] Activists attempt to prevent readmission of migrants to TurkeyThree demonstrators on Lesvos attempted on Friday morning to block a ship carrying 45 Pakistani migrants, who were to be returned to Turkey, as part of the EU-Turkey agreement.The three men grabbed on to the anchor of the ship to prevent it from setting sail. The Coast Guard arrested the three activists who will be brought before the prosecutor facing charges of obstructing the transport. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |