Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Migrant flows to Greece down 98 pct, Tusk and Juncker inform European Parliament

[02] New Democracy will 'speak language of truth' to voters, Mitsotakis says

[03] Traffic adjustments and road closures for October 28 celebrations

[01] Migrant flows to Greece down 98 pct, Tusk and Juncker inform European Parliament

According to Tusk, this reduction was as high as 98 pct relative to the same period in 2015, while Juncker presented specific figures to illustrate the results of the EU-Turkey agreement. A total of 739,000 migrants and refugees had reached Greece in the six months prior to this agreement, he said, while the figures fell to just 18,000 in the six months that followed.

The European Commission president also reported an impressive drop in the numbers killed trying to cross the Aegean, noting that 582 people drowned or went missing between April and October 2015, whereas this number fell to 48 during the same months in 2016. While every death was significant, he added, the first good results from the agreement could not be overlooked and Europe must continue to help Greece. This meant sending more staff to ensure protection of unaccompanied minors, speeding up relocation processes, as well as the resettlement from Turkey to Europe, he said.

Juncker also noted the need to reform the European asylum regime and the Dublin treaty mechanisms, in order to build an efficient European system.

On combatting the causes of migration on a central Mediterranean axis, Juncker stressed the need for progress in cooperation with the African countries participating in the Migration Pact, including Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Ethiopia.

Replying to an MEP about the 60,000 migrants and refugees currently trapped in Greece, Tusk said he was fully aware of the situation in Greece and that it was clearly "premature to talk about a success in the migration issue." He urged the European Parliament to imagine, however, what the situation on the Greek islands might have been if the 98 pct reduction in migrant arrivals had not taken place.

[02] New Democracy will 'speak language of truth' to voters, Mitsotakis says

"Ninety percent of Greeks believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction," Mitsotakis said, noting that Greeks did not currently trust the political system.

"Our aim is to restore this trust. They way we will achieve this is by telling the truth. Many times, what we say makes the citizens feel uncomfortable. We do not want to promise things that we cannot deliver," Mitsotakis said.

According to ND's leader, in order for Greece to exit the crisis it was necessary to carry out deep structural reforms, which included privatisations and changes in the operation of the public sector, which must become more efficient and less connected to whichever party was in power. Among others, Mitsotakis stressed the need for evaluation and transparency in public administration.

ND's leader also pledged to lower taxes by two billion euros if elected and, in order to meet this target, said he had tabled proposals for generating this amount through spending cuts. "Regaining our credibility demands honesty," he said.

Regarding the refugee crisis, Mitsotakis described the EU-Turkey agreement as 'fragile' and warned that the situation on Greek islands was critical, with hotspots unable to fit more arrivals.

There must be more and smaller reception centres so that living conditions for migrants and refugees improve," he said.

[03] Traffic adjustments and road closures for October 28 celebrations

In Athens, traffic will stop from 09:00 and until the end of the parade at Amalias avenue, Panepistimiou Street and Vassilisis Sofias avenue in the section between Panepistimiou and Sekeri, in both traffic lanes.

Around the Athens Cathedral, Mitropoleos street will be closed from 06:00 until the end of festivities and Vasilisis Olgas avenue, in both traffic lanes.

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