Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-11-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Conditions in hotspots must get better, Migration Minister Mouzalas says to ANA

[02] The country is now ready to turn page, says EU Commissioner Moscovici

[03] 29 migrants and refugees rescued; two traffickers arrested

[04] Ships to remain docked on December 8

[01] Conditions in hotspots must get better, Migration Minister Mouzalas says to ANA

"Climate of consensus does not mean we won't do anything" clarified Mouzalas adding that "the government has a programme to implement".

Mouzalas referred to 'black propaganda' on the islands and accused main opposition New Democracy that it has aligned with extreme-right elements and motivates the people.

On the death of two people in Moria hotspot, Mouzalas called it an accident that could happen anywhere but "it is imperative the conditions in the hotspots to become better" and made a plea to the islanders to stop listening to populistic solutions and to support the creation of better living conditions for the refugees".

Mouzalas said to ANA that in the next period that hosting centers will be reduced to half with the parallel reduction of the population that lives in them.

The minister expressed his concern over the possibility EU-Turkey agreement to collapse and described the government's three battles at diplomatic level: on the transfer of the refugees from the islands to the mainland, the change in the Dublin Treaty and the request for the establishment of a single European mechanism for the return of the migrants to their country of origin.

On Belgium's decision to not renew the Belgian experts' tenure on the islands of the northern Aegean for security reasons, he asked the discussion to focus on EU's responsibilities which, as he said, does not meet its commitments.

[02] The country is now ready to turn page, says EU Commissioner Moscovici

Moscovici who arrives on Monday in Athens said that "according to the conclusions of the first review and the good progress in the second review, I believe that now the conditions are suitable for the discussions that must be held in the next Eurogroup meeting" adding that "May's agreement defines clearly the next steps, with three packages of measures (long-term, short-term and mid-term) that remain to be agreed. The further discussions on the debt will play a very important role in IMF's participation in the programmes as it was agreed in May".

Moscovici said it is 'absolutely feasible" the staff agreement to close in the following days. Based on this agreement the Greek authorities must implement those agreed and to rapidly proceed with the necessary next steps in order the second review to be completed "This, however, demands the total cooperation and participation of all the interested parts".

Referring to the thorny issue of the changes in the labour market, Moscovici noted that there is still work to be done adding that progress has been recorded.

[03] 29 migrants and refugees rescued; two traffickers arrested

A pursuit followed and the two traffickers managed to reach the coast where all the passengers disembarked.

The two traffickers were arrested and the migrants were transferred to the port of Chios. The dinghy was confiscated.

[04] Ships to remain docked on December 8

Ships will remain docked in all Greek ports.

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