Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras to farmers: We must try to find solutions through dialogue

[02] Greece will not become a warehouse of souls, says Migration Minister Mouzalas;Only 100 refugees allowed into Fyrom on Thusday

[03] Greece is very close to exiting the crisis, Bank of Greece says

[04] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos: EU's unity at risk; time of huge responsibility

[05] Economic Forum opens on Friday in Delphi

[06] Defence Minister: Refugees or migrants rescued by NATO will be sent back to Turkey

[07] ND spokesman: Refugees issue out of control

[08] Four injured, six arrested in scuffle between Anderlecht and Olympiakos fans

[01] PM Tsipras to farmers: We must try to find solutions through dialogue

I do not agree with the penalisation of the farmers mobilisations and therefore the effort we do today through dialogue is in a positive direction" said Tsipras.

[02] Greece will not become a warehouse of souls, says Migration Minister Mouzalas;Only 100 refugees allowed into Fyrom on Thusday

Mouzalas underlined the 'special' importance of Thursday's meeting saying that for Greece the huge issue is, if Europe is united or not and how is possible.

The second issue is really odd because it is related on how they will handle a humanitarian crisis in Greece "that the same persons are going to create".

Concluding, Mouzalas said that "Greece will not accept unilateral actions. Unilateral actions can also be applied and from Greece. Greece will not become a new Lebanon for Europe, a warehouse of souls, even if this is strongly financed.

Fyrom authorities said on Thursday that they will allow the entrance to only 100 refugees.

Meanwhile, over 3,000 refugees are waiting at the refugees camp at Idomeni to cross the Greek-Fyrom border while 2,000 refugees are hosted at Diavata camp in Thessaloniki.

The authorities said that approximately 5,000 refugees are currently in buses in several parts of the country.

[03] Greece is very close to exiting the crisis, Bank of Greece says

In the report, the central banker noted that the prospect of exiting the crisis was visible today. However, he warned that we have to remain focused on adhering to the terms of the agreement in order to approach it and stressed that in no case these terms should be seen as orders by creditors but as fundamental and necessary reforms, which had to be done a long time ago.

"The Greek side must adopt the programme as a necessary means of adjusting and reforming the economy," Stournara said.

The Bank of Greece expects that the country's GDP will continue contracting at least until the end of the first half of 2016, due to a carry-over from 2015, but noted that there were objective preconditions to halt this recession and to reach positive growth rates from the second half of the year. However, a series of actions were necessary to avert any risks and to enhance the prospects of recovery. First and most crucial steps for future developments was a successful completion of the first review of the Greek programme, currently underway.

[04] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos: EU's unity at risk; time of huge responsibility

The Greek Commissioner called 'crucial' the meeting and underlined that "EU's unity is at risk, human lives are in danger".

Avramopoulos said that "in the last months we have worked hard and took decisions. It is time for results. Lone initiatives lead nowhere.(..) Only ten days are left until March 7" said Avramopoulos.

[05] Economic Forum opens on Friday in Delphi

The forum, held under the auspices of the President of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, will bring together top government ministers, representatives from the main opposition party, European Commissioners, high-ranking officials from global institutions such as World Bank, European Investment Fund, the European Commission, OLAF and highly-influential international think tanks.

The agenda of the meeting will cover 20 hot issues, such as changes in international geopolitical balance of power and challenges facing the eastern Mediterranean region and Greece's long-term growth outlook.

[06] Defence Minister: Refugees or migrants rescued by NATO will be sent back to Turkey

"The agreement with NATO has closed. Ships of the NATO force are already sailing along the coastline to ensure that whoever is rescued will be sent back to Turkey" he stressed.

[07] ND spokesman: Refugees issue out of control

"The country touches point zero. The refugees issue is almost out of control. The real economy is a deserted land. The negotiation is "clinically dead" and the society is in turmoil. Mr. Tsipras is becoming a fatal prime minister for Greece. He insults, polarises, lies and slanders. In the morning he calls for consensus and in the evening he divides" said Koumoutsakos.

On his part, ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues to take initiatives on the refugees' issue which he considers of high national importance with European and international dimensions.

[08] Four injured, six arrested in scuffle between Anderlecht and Olympiakos fans

Anderlecht's fans are in Greece for the Europa League football match Olympiakos-Anderlecht that will be held on Thursday evening at Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus.

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