Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-11-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] State budget to be tabled in parliament next week

[02] UNHCR, Amnesty International call for action to stop attacks against refugees in Chios

[01] State budget to be tabled in parliament next week

According to parliament sources, the first package of the second review's prior actions will be voted by December 3. In the next days two omnibus bills containing these prior actions will be tabled, while the draft law on alternative fuel and a bill on workers' mobility will be discussed next week.

[02] UNHCR, Amnesty International call for action to stop attacks against refugees in Chios

"I strongly condemn any acts of violence, resulting both in the local population and the refugees being seriously hurt", said Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR's Representative in Greece. "All perpetrators of such acts should be found and brought to justice".

Following an attack against the residents of Souda with Molotov cocktails and heavy stones on Thursday night and other violent incidents earlier this week, several tents burned and serious damages were caused to the shelter of many men, women and children escaping from war-torn countries.

The UNHCR also called on the authorities to prevent any future acts of violence by reinforcing security in and around the site. Efforts to find alternative accommodation to enable the closure of Souda should also be increased, the agency said.

Amnesty International urged police and judicial authorities to find the perpetrators and ensure safety on the island.

"These shocking attacks against refugees cannot be permitted to continue with impunity. For the last two nights, suspected right-wing extremists have thrown petrol bombs, stones and rocks down on the camp from castle walls, causing injuries and panic. At least one refugee was injured by a stone just this afternoon," said Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International's Deputy Europe Director.

"Police and judicial authorities must not only take urgent measures to investigate these hate crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice but as a third night approaches, they must act to ensure the safety of the refugees on the island."

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