Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM: Success of EU-Turkey deal will depend on low migration flows

[02] Tusk, Davutoglu, Juncker welcome EU-Turkey deal

[03] Maarten Verwey appointed EU Coordinator to organize asulym services in Greece

[01] Greek PM: Success of EU-Turkey deal will depend on low migration flows

"We achieved the best that we could achieve with respect to the refugee issue and must now work hard to cope with this difficult crisis we are facing," Tsipras told reporters in a press conference after the summit. He noted that Greece and Cyprus had successfully fended off the Turkish side's "unreasonable demands" with respect to the Cyprus issue and managed to have the five chapters blocked by Cyprus and one chapter blocked by Greece "taken off" the table in the talks.

This was done without fanfare but on the basis of a specific plan, he added, while noting that Greece's agreements with Turkey will be compatible with international and European law.

He also hailed the EU's success in achieving a common approach to the refugee crisis that was humanitarian and concerned the EU in its entirety.

The Greek prime minister stressed that there could be no solution to the refugee crisis that did not involve an agreement with Turkey, noting that the plan that many had thought abandoned a few days earlier was now a common EU decision, while unilateral decisions were "put on ice".

Tsipras said that Greece will receive European support in terms of both personnel and resources, with 2,300 asylum and security experts and interpreters expected in Greece to assist in managing the refugees and migrants.

"We sought and achieved an agreement for immediate assistance in infrastructure, with reinforcements for the asylum service staff," Tsipras said, noting that the reinforcements will be arriving within the next few days.

An effort was underway to close off all illegal routes for refugees while opening up legal avenues for refugees entitled to international protection in their stead, the prime minister added, while highlighting the importance of NATO's assistance, even if the results were modest as yet.

He said this would require three "filters", including action against traffickers operating along the Turkish coast, the NATO operation with Turkey and creating strong disincentives for refugees and migrants.

A successful implementation of the agreement would require a positive attitude from the EU member-states and from Turkey, he warned, adding that Greece's first priority was relieve the humanitarian crisis on its northern borders "as a result of the unilateral and illegal actions of certain states, he added.

He appealed to those currently in Idomeni and other informal shelters where their health was at risk to leave the area and make their way in safety to organised accommodation being prepared by Greek authorities, while thanking all the state employees and volunteers providing aid for the refugees.

Replying to reporters' questions, Tsipras stressed that the staff arriving to assist Greece will be under the orders of Greek authorities, which will in charge, while denying that the presence of Turkish liaison officers on Greek islands implied any compromise in sovereignty and pointing out that Greece will also have its own liaison officers on the Turkish shores.

He again pointed out that the agreement was a success achieved in the face of very different attitudes in Europe, from those that wanted no refugees at all to those happy to ignore the problem as long as it wasn't "in their back yard". He criticised those member-states that he said wanted to "selectively" follow the rules that benefit them but ignore the ones that call for sharing burdens.

Implementation of the agreement would also be yet another criterion to be observed by Turkey in its path toward EU accession, he pointed out, adding that a solution to the refugee problem will come only via EU-Turkey cooperation and EU-Turkey rapprochement.

Tsipras also underlined Greece's position that relocation and resettlement quotas should not be on a voluntary basis but on a proportional basis, depending on each country's ability to shoulder the burden, and noted that if the countries did not want to accept refugees then they must contribute financially.

Questioned about the row over Alternate Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas and demands by the government's coalition partner ANEL that the minister be removed, Tsipras said he intended to meet with ANEL leader Panos Kammenos when the latter returned from a trip to the United States to discuss the issue and expressed confidence that a "golden compromise" on the issue will be achieved, praising the contribution of both Mouzalas and Kammenos to the effort to manage the refugee and migration crisis.

[02] Tusk, Davutoglu, Juncker welcome EU-Turkey deal

Speaking during a joint press conference after the summit, Davutoglu said it is a "historic day" foe Europe and Turkey as the new deal will help tackle illegal migration.

Asked to comment on the criticism leveled against Turkey for the living conditions of refugees in the country's camps, Davutoglu said he's "proud" of the centers and urged anyone who has doubts to visit them. He also said that Turkish citizens live in peace with the refugees without incidents of racism and xenophobia.

Asked by journalist to comment on the critical statements made by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against Europe, Davutoglu retorted that Europe's reality has "two faces". One face is its leadership, with whom he works hand-in-hand and which wishes to find a solution for humanitarian reasons. The other reality to which Erdogan referred to, is of some European states and politicians who try to block refugees from coming to Europe, with specific and even aggressive actions.

Commenting on the same issue, Juncker said it would be better to avoid "exaggerated statements", while Tusk first described the agreement as "innovative" for EU-Turkish relations and then added that "Europe is the main destination for the refugees because it is the most open, tolerant continent … and it wants to stay that way."

Juncker also spoke of the "herculean task" which mainly has to be taken on by Greece so as to implement the EU-Turkey deal, noting that Dutch economist Maarten Verwey will act as the EU Coordinator for the refugee crisis in Greece. Verwey will organize both the economic assistance and the logistics support provided to the country. He then concluded: "Idomeni is not the idea I have for Europe."

On the opening of chapter 33 of its EU accession procedure that concerns the budget, the Turkish premier welcomed the EU's decision and the new steps that will be taken to speed up the opening of other chapters in the future. Commenting on the same issue, Tusk also welcomed the opening of the new chapter but also noted the importance of negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue.

On the issue of visa waivers for Turkish citizens, Davutoglu said his country will implement its commitments by the end of May and the same is expected of the EU.

[03] Maarten Verwey appointed EU Coordinator to organize asulym services in Greece

The decision follows the agreement achieved by the heads of State or Government who met at the European Council today that "the Commission will coordinate and organise together with member-states and agencies the necessary support structures to implement it effectively."

The EU will provide Greece at short notice with the necessary means, including border guards, asylum experts and interpreters, to tackle the refugee crisis. As part of this agreement, the EU will dispatch 4,000 staff in Greece to help the government organize its asylum process.

"Verwey will organise the work and coordinate the dispatching of the 4,000 staff that will be needed from Greece, member-states, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and FRONTEX. We need case workers, interpreters, judges, return officers and security officers," Juncker said.

Verwey is the Director-General of the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Service. He leads a team which has already been on the ground in Greece since October 2015, working hand in hand with the Greek authorities to address the refugee crisis, by accelerating access to emergency funding, improving the coordination between the various actors, addressing administrative bottlenecks and facilitating knowledge sharing on border management and relocation.BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ C. Vasilaki) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker appointed on Friday Dutch economist Maarten Verwey to act as the EU Coordinator of the refugee crisis in Greece, according to a Commission press release.

The decision follows the agreement achieved by the heads of State or Government who met at the European Council today that "the Commission will coordinate and organise together with member-states and agencies the necessary support structures to implement it effectively."

The EU will provide Greece at short notice with the necessary means, including border guards, asylum experts and interpreters, to tackle the refugee crisis. As part of this agreement, the EU will dispatch 4,000 staff in Greece to help the government organize its asylum process.

"Verwey will organise the work and coordinate the dispatching of the 4,000 staff that will be needed from Greece, member-states, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and FRONTEX. We need case workers, interpreters, judges, return officers and security officers," Juncker said.

Verwey is the Director-General of the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Service. He leads a team which has already been on the ground in Greece since October 2015, working hand in hand with the Greek authorities to address the refugee crisis, by accelerating access to emergency funding, improving the coordination between the various actors, addressing administrative bottlenecks and facilitating knowledge sharing on border management and relocation.

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