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Tuesday, 26 November 2024 | ||
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-06-26Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] EU Social Affairs Ministers Council focuses on employment, social policyANA-MPA - Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis, concluding the sessions of the EU's Council of Social Affairs Ministers on Thursday, thanked the EU's bodies and member-states for their wonderful cooperation and their support for the Greek Presidency's success in achieving progress and completing its work on important files for the course of the EU's integration."We achieved the development of those implements and policies that help us respond to the anxieties and needs, expectations of the European citizens. To the needs for dignified living, for qualitative jobs for all, for opportunities of advancement during life for all of us", he added. Employment and social policy issues dominated the last EU Council of Social Affairs Ministers during the Greek Presidency that convened in Luxembourg under Vroutsis' chairmanship. The ministers approved recommendations for each country concerning employment and social cohesion, signalling the successful conclusion of the European Six-Month period in 2014. [In photo, Vroutsis (C), with colleagues at the Social Policy (EPSCO) Council meeting. ANA-MPA/consilium.europa.eu/Tashana Batista] [02] Another three men remanded in custody in relation to huge heroin bustAnother three men involved in the unprecedented bust of 2.12 tonnes of heroin in Greece were remanded in custody on Wednesday. These are a 32-year-old Greek, a 47-year-old Iranian and an Indian crew member of the small tanker "Noor One", which transported the huge drugs cargo to Athens.The Greek refused he had any prior knowledge of the cargo he was carrying, rejecting any alleged involvement whatsoever in the drugs trafficking case. He actually attributed his entanglement in it, to purely coincidental circumstances. The Iranian, who seems to hold a key role in the case, claimed in his testimony that he, also, was not aware of the cargo the ship was carrying and that he only needed the money because of his four kids and his destitution. The Indian crew member also refused any knowledge of the cargo, claiming he thought the small tanker was headed to Greece for repairs. Three more persons were taken to a Piraeus prosecutor, facing charges of fuel smuggling, due to 18 tonnes of diesel found in the tanker which could not be justified by any transaction documents. All three remain in custody and will be led anew to the Piraeus courts on Thursday, this time facing charges of drugs trafficking. The authorities have already pumped out of the seized tanker the smuggled diesel and will be looking for any hidden vaults inside the ship's eight tanks, in search of more heroin that might have been stashed there. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |