Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] If world fails to tackle migration issue, 'repercussions will be felt everywhere,'

[02] Marfin Bank trial: Employee heard someone shouting outside, 'Âurn them'

[01] If world fails to tackle migration issue, 'repercussions will be felt everywhere,'

"We either succeed in managing it collectively, comprehensively and on the basis of our principles or we fail. Worst still, we don't only face the danger of failing in this particular challenge but also of betraying our principles," he said.

The Greek people, despite facing a deep economic crisis, "have daily given one reply for the past year and a half: 'Yes, it is our duty'," Tsipras added.

Greece faced this challenge as 1.2 million migrants and refugees passed through the country and again when its northern borders were closed through unilateral actions, he pointed out.

"We face it as we strive to support the roughly 60,000 refugees trapped in Greece, as well as those that continue to come. Since our Asylum Service - which did not even exist three years ago - is handling the fourth largest number of asylum requests in Europe. Since our authorities, along with the European and Turkish authorities, are striving to implement the difficult but necessary EU-Turkey agreement. An agreement that led to a drastic reduction in flows and - most importantly – the number of deaths in the Aegean. An agreement that replaces the irregular, dangerous route to Europe with a legal route via the resettlement process," Tsipras said.

Greece's efforts, both to guard its borders and reinforce its asylum service, could only succeed if there was solidarity and the responsibilities were shared, he added.

"The commitments made to Greece must be adhered to. Our Asylum Service must be supported with many more European asylum staff. Many more refugees must be relocated from Greece to other European countries. We must reinforce our cooperation with Asian and African countries of origin and transit, so that we ensure that we can return those that do not merit international protection," he said.

As Europe struggled to cope with the greatest migration flows since the Second World War and the repercussions of poverty, repression and war in its wider neighbourhood, questions arose about whether it still possible to safeguard social cohesion and the security of its citizens without violating international law and the Geneva Convention, Tsipras said.

"If we do not to make a concerted effort to replace dangerous migration routes with others that are legal and humane, if we do not address the causes that generate migration, if we do not speed up the relocation of refugees to countries around the world that can receive them, then we will fail," Tsipras underlined.

Such a failure would then give room to nationalist and xenophobic forces to rise up for the first time since WWII, he warned.

[02] Marfin Bank trial: Employee heard someone shouting outside, 'Âurn them'

On trial are Theodoros Sipsas, who faces charges for the torching of the bank branch and the three deaths, and Pavlos Andreev, who has been charged with the bombing of the Ianos bookshop. Both deny the charges against them.

The trial began with 37 of the 80 witnesses absent. Witnesses that took the stand included family and colleagues of the slain Marfin employees, as well as people who were on the scene. None of them were able to definitively identify the accused as the individuals that set fire to the bank. One witness declined to elaborate on the events of that day, citing fears for his or her safety and referring to a "dialogue that took place at the time, with certain people." The same witness did not recognise the accused.

Other witnesses said that the bank branch was attacked by three or more individuals, who were "lithe and quick and not especially heavy." Another witness said he had heard someone shouting "burn them, burn them," but did not see who said it.

Another witness, Anastasia Christaki, said the culprits appeared to her to be small and slim youths, rather than men, and that they had their faces covered.

The trial wll continue on October 14.

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