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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-12-01Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Debate on 2016 draft budget starts in plenum; will be voted on Dec. 5The debate on the government's 2016 draft budget started at the parliament's plenum on Tuesday evening with speeches by the rapporteurs of all parties. It will be concluded on December 5 (Saturday) at midnight.[02] Migrants stuck at Eidomeni will be taken back to Athens, Mouzalas saysThe refugees and migrants stuck at the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) at the Eidomeni crossing will be transported back to Athens, which was equipped with hospitality structures to receive them, Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas said on Tuesday."We do not believe that the borders will open. We have started a campaign to take them from Eidomeni and bring them to Athens. It is clear that the railway line cannot stay closed for nine days," he told the radio station "Alpha 9.89". Commenting on FYROM's decision to close its borders to all except selected nationalities, he noted that this "was a violation of international law". [03] Greek island abolishes plastic bags to defend environmentThe small island of Alonnisos, the third member of the Northern Sporades group in the central Aegean, is abolishing plastic bags from all stores and supermarkets starting December 1 to protect its fragile ecosystem, the non-governmental organization Mediterranean SOS Network (MedSOS) announced on Tuesday.The lush green island, home of the most important remaining populations of Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) in the region, is the first area of Greece to trade plastic bags with environment-friendly canvas bags for transporting goods. Throughout the day, municipal officials, students and volunteers greeted residents at the supermarkets and other stores to inform them of the change and provide them with canvas bags and leaflets explaining the initiative, said the NGO. It also said local supermarkets embraced the call and stopped providing plastic bags altogether, giving clients reusable bags for their shopping. Authorities now plan educational initiatives, coastal cleanups and consultation workshops to build environmental consciousness and expand the program throughout the island. [04] U.S. embassy asks Greek island to lower rent on Athens property 'due to crisis'The U.S. embassy in Athens has asked the municipal authority on the Greek island of Chios for a 15 pct discount in the yearly rent it pays on a property in the upper-crust Athens district of Kolonaki, saying it should have a lower rent due to the economic crisis.The house leased by the embassy was part of a bequest left to the municipality and was leased by the embassy in 2004 for the sum of 21,000 euros. The U.S. embassy has asked for a more competitive rent of 18,000 euros a year, saying rents in the area have fallen due to the economic crisis. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |