Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Investment tools draft bill endorsed by parliament

[02] PASOK leader Venizelos addresses party's Political Council

[03] Thousands of unaccompanied children from third countries end up in Greece

[04] Greece offers one week extension in tender for state property assets

[05] Cypriot banks in Greece to remain closed on Thu. and Fri.

[01] Investment tools draft bill endorsed by parliament

Also withdrawn was an amendment to the tertiary education restructuring plan "Athena", which however will be included in another draft bill by the Education Ministry.

[02] PASOK leader Venizelos addresses party's Political Council

Venizelos reiterated in his address what he said at the Parliamentary Plenum on current political developments regarding developments with Cyprus and asked for, as took place, his recommendation at the Plenum be valid as a Political Council decision, at least with developments so far.amna

According to the same reports, the PASOK leader highlighted the issue of the national strategy comparatively with Cyprus and Greece, claiming that regardless of the outcome of the Cypriot "no" and the assessment of this stance of the Cypriots, constitutes an important political issue, that is also necessary for Greece, the issue of the understanding between the political forces on a common national target. This, indeed, was an issue raised by most of the speakers.amna

As regards Greece's internal affairs, Venizelos said, according to the same sources, that whatever deviations exist from targets must be absorbed by the end of the programme, reiterating in essence his proposal for there to be a real extension of even up to 2016.

[03] Thousands of unaccompanied children from third countries end up in Greece

Addressing a conference hosted on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination celebrated on March 21, Moschos referred to his experience with unaccompanied children in detention centers.

The children sleep on cement beds with only a blanket to keep them warm, not knowing how long they will have to stay there, he said, adding that most of the time, those children are not treated as such by police and the administrative agencies, but rather as migration law violators.amna

Children under the age of 18, from third countries or of unknown nationality, that arrive in Greece without being accompanied by a legal guardian, are described with the term "unaccompanied children", Athens First Instance Court Prosecutor Ilias Zagoreos said. amna

Most of the children are victims of exploitation, abuse, trading of minors, illegal labour and human trafficking, he said, adding that the reasons that force them to migrate from their countries are armed conflicts, poverty and being left orphans. Usually, the children are being detected by NGOs while attempting to enter or leave the country or they are arrested for panhandling. amna

Athens Court of Appeals Judge Sophia Tzoumerkioti and Prosecutor Zagoreos advocated the establishment of a special body of commissioners assigned with the care of unaccompanied children and underlined the urgent need for interpreters. Tzoumerkioti said that more hospitality centers will have to be built to provide shelter, food, education and jobs to the children, noting that the existing ones are not enough to meet the needs.

[04] Greece offers one week extension in tender for state property assets

[05] Cypriot banks in Greece to remain closed on Thu. and Fri.

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras reassured once more that deposits by Greek citizens are safe.

He stressed that there was absolutely no risk for deposits in Cypriot, Greek or any other foreign bank in Greece.

Greek and other foreign banks will operate as normally.

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