Outgoing Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday ruled out forming a national unity government should he fail to win a outright majority in snap elections triggered after he resigned last week.
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How the world sees Greece
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Honor Thy Benefactor: Theodore Spyropoulos
Theodore Spyropoulos was was quintessentially Greek-American. and deserving of having a school named after him or a statue erected. The post Honor Thy Benefactor: Theodore Spyropoulos appeared first on The National Herald.
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Tsipras Rules Out Coalition Partners
Greece's former Premier Alexis Tsipras said SYRIZA won't form a coalition with most partners if it falls short of winning elections outright. The post Tsipras Rules Out Coalition Partners appeared first on The National Herald.
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An Unexplored Side of the Greek Financial Crisis: Two Economies, One Currency
… for spare change in Athens, Greece. (Photo: Gabriela Insuratelu / Shutterstock.com … seemingly irresolvable Greek debt crisis, and what it portends for Greece and … precipitating factor virtually undiscussed. In Greece, and in virtually all Western …
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Greece's Tsipras Rules out Most Potential Coalition Partners
Greece's prime minister on Wednesday raised the political stakes ahead of next month's early national election, saying he will not enter a coalition with ...
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Tsipras Rules Out Leading Coalition With Greek Opposition
Outgoing Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras refused to lead a coalition government with the country's main opposition parties, if he fails to secure a ...
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Greece''s Alexis Tsipras Struggles to Keep Syriza Party Together
ATHENS--Even before Greece's September election is officially called, outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is facing the growing challenge of ...
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Greek singer Monika releasing 'Secret in the Dark' via Other Music (listen), playing Baby's All Right ...
Greek singer Monika was already a star in her native country when she visited NYC a couple years ago. A fan of Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse, ...
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Greek economy minister says banking restrictions will be lifted 'very soon'
#politics
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Tsipras softens stand on Greek debt relief before election
ATHENS (Reuters) - Outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signaled on Wednesday he would accept an easing of Greece's huge debt burden if he wins elections expected next month without any of the write-offs he has long demanded.
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Tsipras: We hadn’t realized the power of money, banks
Outgoing Greek PM defends memorandum, negotiations, his choices, referendum et. al. during TV interview
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Don’t Take Hitchhikers in Greece, Bulgaria Tells Its Motorists
The Foreign Ministry in Sofia has advised motorists visiting Greece to avoid taking hitchhikers in their vehicles in view of increased migrant influx into Bulgaria’s southern neighbor. Given the large number of illegal migrants moving along Greece’s roads, “we recommend to Bulgarian citizens travelling by car in Greece not to accept hitchhikers into their cars,” the Foreign Ministry said on its website. Such action is considered people trafficking – a serious criminal offence punishable by jail terms of at least two years for each illegal migrant under Greece’s Penal Code, the Foreign Ministry said.
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Bulgarian Foreign Ministry: Don't pick up hitchhikers in Greece
The advisory came against the background of what the foreign ministry called the “complicated migrant situation” in Greece and the movement of large ...
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New radical Greek leftist leader calls for Grexit
A pro-Euro protester holds a European Union and a Greek national flag during a rally in front of the parliament building in Athens, Greece, July 9, 2015 ...
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Home Greek news Greek PM Tsipras: I Will Not Cooperate with New Democracy After the...
Tsipras Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras gave his first interview following his resignation and spoke on his seven-month term at the country's helm.
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Greek Fest 2015 is cooking up authentic tastes in the kitchen and talking wines
GreekFest 2015 marks the 42nd year for the big event, and two parishioners from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church stopped by to make us a few ...
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In Greece, the Ruling Party Falls Apart
Editor's Note: Greece is a country in crisis. Facing financial, political and social uncertainty, Greece's ruling Syriza party has been trying to cut a deal ...
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UN sets up ‘child-friendly’ space at migrant rest area near former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia border
Near Gevgelija, a southeast town bordering Greece, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has established a child-friendly space with a mobile team to support women and children fleeing violence in their home countries and moving through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
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Greece stocks higher at close of trade; Athens General-Composite up 0.16%
Investing.com – Greece stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Oil & Gas, Food and Utilities sectors led shares higher.
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Greek privatisations to go ahead: outgoing economy minister
Athens (AFP) - A major sell-off of Greek public assets promised as part of its huge international bailout will go ahead as planned, the outgoing ...
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Greek bourse calms down after rocky start to week
Following the roller-coaster ride during the first two sessions of the week, trading was stable on the Athens Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
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Greece has taken 200000 migrants this year, minister says
ATHENS —More than 200,000 migrants have reached Greece's eastern Aegean islands this year, with half of them arriving in the last two months ...
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Gracious Greek Revival with Cottage in Bridgehampton for $5.295M
This stately old house has been nicely updated: a new kitchen complements original features like wide plank floors, period fireplaces, and elegant ...
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France vows to work with new Greek government
Under the Greek constitution, following the Prime Minister's resignation, the three biggest parties are each given a mandate by the president to form a ...
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Hundreds Of Refugees Find Shelter In New Athens Camp
Three days after its opening on Aug. 16, the makeshift camp for migrants in the Eleonas district of Athens looked like the landscape of a sci-fi movie. Located just below busy Iera Odos Avenue, the 10-acre emergency site is surrounded by big warehouses and junkyards. Ninety newly built containers are neatly lined up in the vast open space. The summer of 2015 in Greece will go down in memory as the “summer of the dispossessed.” Thousands of people fleeing war and persecution in their home countries have arrived on Greece’s shores, hoping to eventually make their way to the richer countries of northern Europe. This month, the Greek government opened its first “hospitality center” to accommodate some of the refugees in the capital. The camp has gradually filled in the past week and currently hosts about 500 people, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini. The UN refugee agency UNHCR estimates that 160,000 people have arrived in Greece since the beginning of the year -- almost four times as many as came in all of 2014. Nearly 21,000 migrants entered the country in the week between Aug. 8 and 14 alone, the most recent week for which overall figures are available. The majority of the new arrivals are fleeing the years-long wars in Syria and Afghanistan. Run by the ministries of migration, labor and health, the Eleonas camp is designed to accommodate up to 720 people. In addition to sanitation facilities, the camp holds a medical center and a huge open tent serving as a children’s space where kids can play ball or finger paint. Most refugees first enter Greece through the islands of Kos, Samos, Chios, Lesvos, Kalymnos or Leros; almost all come through Turkey. They’ve often paid traffickers the equivalent of $1,000 per person, at a minimum, for the crossing across the Aegean Sea. Upon arrival on the islands, they get a temporary residence permit that allows them to stay in the country for a limited time -- 30 days for most nationalities and up to six months for Syrians. They can apply for asylum in Greece, but most prefer to travel on to northern Europe. Kareem, who moved to Eleonas last week, is one of those who hopes to travel north. The 29-year-old came to Greece with his family: his wife, small baby and older daughter. Communicating in broken English and gestures, he said he came from Afghanistan and fled Iran, where he was living, out of fear of being drafted into the Iranian army to go fight in Syria. He considers his stay in Eleonas temporary and wants to go to Germany, where he has some family and hopes to find a job. But the stay in Greece, however temporary, can be a challenge in itself as Greece's cash-strapped government struggled to provide basic amenities for the refugees. The identification process on the islands often takes days, with local offices struggling to keep up with the sheer number of migrants. While they wait to be registered, the newly arrived camp out in public spaces. Until the opening of the camp in Eleonas, the options of refugees who had made their way to Athens after the identification process were also limited. Stranded in the capital, with no place to go and no real means to support themselves during a sizzling summer, up to 2,000 people camped in Pedio tou Areos, one of the biggest parks of the capital, for several weeks this summer. Without government-run services or facilities to assist them, it fell to local volunteers to meet the refugees' basic needs. People from all over Athens, especially from nearby neighborhoods like Exarcheia and Kypseli, formed a solidarity structure that managed to shelter, accommodate and feed an ever-fluctuating number of people who kept coming and leaving. Volunteer-run groups covered food distribution, medical needs, clothes, cleaning, communication and children's creative play. Solidarity achieved a miracle in Pedio tou Areos, said Achilles Peklaris, one of the volunteers. "This is the weapon of the people,” he added. Now, the crisis-stricken Greek government has finally stepped in to assist the refugees streaming in to Athens. The Eleonas camp will serve as a model for other centers that will be constructed imminently, including new facilities on the islands of Kos, Chios and Leros, said Greece's alternate minister of immigration, Tasia Christodoulopoulou, at a press conference Aug. 19. Also on HuffPost: -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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Tsipras Risks Fragmented Parliament in Greek Election Gamble
… Bloomberg) -- Greek outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ … months of brinkmanship which pushed Greece on the verge of expulsion … Meimarakis, have vowed to keep Greece in the currency bloc and … buy tickets to return to Greece just to vote, because it …
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Chinese Journalists Visit Greece as Part of ‘Chinese Dream, Silk Road Dream’
A group of 27 Chinese journalists from XINHUA news agency are on an expedition with final destination Athens, Greece, within the framework of “Chinese Dream, Silk Road Dream.” They are using 12 vehicles and have already covered 16,000 km. Some members of the delegation visited Greek Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura and expressed their admiration
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85-Year-Old Man Allegedly Repeatedly Sexually Harassed 5-Year-Old in Central Greece
An 85-year-old man is being accused of harassing a 5-year-old girl in village in western Fthiotida, Central Greece. According to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, the 5-year-old girl was taken to the hospital by her 60-year-old grandmother as she felt pain in her genital organs. They both told the doctors and police that an 85-year-old man had been
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Fifty-three Left Platform Members Resign from SYRIZA Central Committee
Fifty-three members of SYRIZA’s Central Committee, most of them affiliated with Panagiotis Lafazanis’ Left Platform, resigned on Wednesday. In a letter, they stressed that they were unable to serve the new Memorandum signed by Greece, which they said delivered the final blow to the Greek people, as Central Committee members. The majority of the 53 have
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20-Year-Old African Refugee Top Entrant in Greek Higher Education Institution
Among the thousands of students in Greece who were accepted in higher educational institutions across the country on Wednesday was Julien, a 20-year-old immigrant from Africa. Julien, who migrated from Africa to Greece at the age of 16 in November 2011, was accepted into the Electrical Engineering department of the Technological Educational Institute of Piraeus as the
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Chalkidiki Miners Meet with Local Authorities to Discuss Suspension of Mine Development
Miners in Chalkidiki, northern Greece, met with authorities from the municipality of Arnaia on Wednesday to discuss the Greek government’s decision to suspend Hellas Gold’s development of a gold mine in Skouries and Olympias. Prior to and during the meeting, some miners had taken over the municipality building in a symbolic gesture of protest and were planning to evacuate it later
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New Marina on the Greek Island of Rhodes Begins Trial Run
The new marina on the Greek island of Rhodes started its trial operation and is already hosting leisure boats. In the first phase of its development, the marina can accommodate 382 yachts. It offers a safe and functional stay as well as a single electronic system of surveillance, operation and management. The visitor is directly informed
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The Most Interesting Thing About That Ancient Spartan Palace Isn't The Palace -- It's The Language
A new Mycenaean-era palace found near the later site of Sparta has revealed examples of the earliest known Greek writing, preserved in clay hardened by a fire.
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German Parliament overwhelmingly approves Greek bailout
The deal was the first privatization to be concluded under the new third bailout that was ratified by the Greek parliament last Friday. The new package ...
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Greek Finance Ministry: Attacks on Tax Auditors Won't Stop Investigations
safari-apodeiksewn-apo-to-upoik.w_hr The Greek Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday that tax auditors who have been physically or verbally ...
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French Newspaper Analyzes Greek PM's Position Within SYRIZA
Tsipras As Greeks prepare to head to the polls for the third time in nine months, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is the subject of an article in the ...
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Extreme sport enthusiasts cliff jump in Greece
Extreme sport enthusiasts cliff jump in Greece. Aug 26, 2015. Europe; 1 min 36 secs. Extreme base jumpers from across the world perform more than ...
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Movement-to-Movement Solidarity with Greece: The Waiting is Over
Greece is divided. There is the Greece of Tsipris, and the Greece of the movements. What appeared for a short period to be a united country, ...
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Little Greek Opens Doors On 2nd Clearwater Location
Little Greek Fresh Grill has officially opened its doors at 2245 Gulf to Bay Blvd. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, serving up falafel, gyros, ...
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Tsipras' party suffers further defections before Greece's September elections
ATHENS, Greece - A large block of hardline leftwing officials has left Greece's dominant Syriza party, highlighting the challenges Prime Minister Alexis ...
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Greece's new far-left party to seek mandate to form govt
The ruling Greek party Syriza is set to split, with 25 far-left lawmakers intending to leave and form an independent party, a deputy speaker of the ...
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Greek Budget Exceeds Surplus Target for First Half of 2015
Greece’s State Budget Primary Balance amounted to a surplus of 3,712 million euros, against the primary surplus target of 2,988 million and the primary surplus of 2,279 million performed on the same period last year. State Budget net revenue amounted ...
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The 11 best dog breeds, ranked!
Dogs are the best. Incredibly loyal, they comfort, protect, and love their humans unconditionally, making dogs superior to any other pet out there. But not all dogs are created equal. In celebration of National Dog Day, we ranked the 11 best dog breeds, based on factors including health, personality, and overall popularity. 11. Portuguese Water Dogs Portuguese water dogs were originally bred to herd fish, retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and act as couriers from ship to shore. They’re good for people with allergies and make excellent companions since they are loving, independent, intelligent, and easy to train. Portuguese water dogs also enjoy being petted and are friendly with strangers. Just be warned that like many larger dogs, boredom can cause them to become destructive. 10. Newfoundland Dogs Known as “nature’s babysitter,” Newfoundland Dogs are the absolute sweetest. Perhaps the best-known Newfoundland is the fictional Nana from “Peter Pan,” who was so wonderful with children. These gentle giants are highly loyal and easy to train, and are legendary for their docile temper. Newfoundland dogs are also strong swimmers, and the breed was trained to rescue people from drowning — one dog even famously saved Napoleon Bonaparte. 9. Maltese One of the most ancient of the toy breeds, Maltese dogs were bred to be sweet and adoring of their owners. The Greeks even erected tombs for their Maltese dogs, and in Elizabethan times, they were called “The Comforter” because it was believed they could relieve pain and cure illness. Maltese dogs are also extremely hypoallergenic, with silky coats that don’t shed. And because of their size, these dogs are good for apartment living, too. 8. Golden Retrievers Goldens are sweet, loyal, and incredible companion dogs. They’d rather be sleeping at your feet then running around outside without you. They’re also very even-tempered, especially with small children. Goldens make great service and comfort dogs because of their friendly and tolerant attitudes. Plus they were bred to retrieve ducks and other fowl for hunters, so if you like playing fetch, this is the dog for you. 7. Huskies Siberian huskies are stunning animals, with their thick fur coat and piercing eyes. Most people who choose a Husky do so for their extraordinary beauty. Huskies are good natured dogs who are affectionate with children. They shed minimally, except for twice a year when they blow out their coat, and don’t have the typical “dog odor” that bigger breeds tend to have. Huskies are not considered a great breed for first-time dog owners, since they need a lot of attention, exercise, and are very good as escaping and running away. 6. Poodles Poodles get a bad rap. But they’re easy to train since they’re so intelligent, and are lively, fun-loving, and loyal family dogs. Poodles can be attention seekers, so don’t be surprised if this people-oriented breed is constantly with you. They’re also protective of their families and homes, and can become aggressive with people outside the family or with other dogs. 5. Beagles Because of their intelligence, Beagles are used by law enforcement at airports to sniff baggage for items that are not permitted. Due to their friendly nature and appearance, Beagles don’t worry passengers. This breed also has a lack of inherited health problems, and an even temper which is good for families and small children. The most common reason Beagles are abandoned or turned over to the pound is because their owners couldn’t stand their howling. This can be controlled by training your dog early to avoid excessive barking. 4. German Shepherds A relatively new breed (they date back to 1899), German Shepherds are exceptional animals: Courageous, obedient, incredibly loyal, and eager to learn. German Shepherds are very intelligent too, and excel at most anything they’re trained to do. They’re usually used as service dogs and police dogs to protect officers and locate drugs or human remains. German Shepherds love their humans so much that they will suffer from separation anxiety, and can become destructive when bored alone at home. 3. Pembroke Welsh Corgis Corgis have a cult-like following mainly due to their playful and sweet personalities. According to Welsh mythology, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was even the transportation mode of choice for fairies. Though they can be shy with strangers, Corgis are good with children and have a strong desire to please their owners. They’re also one of the silliest-looking dogs, with huge ears, a long torso, and a big butt. Just monitor their food intake closely since this breed is prone to overeating. 2. Labrador Retrievers There’s a reason why Labs are the most popular breed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, as well as here in the U.S. They are devoted and obedient and have even temperaments that make them good with both children and other animals. Bred to be eager to please and playful companions, Labs are smart and commonly chosen as guide dogs and service dogs for blind or autistic individuals. They also make understanding therapy dogs, and can be trained to aid law enforcement and other official agencies by screening and detection work. 1. Mixed Breeds No matter what mix of breeds, mutts are awesome. Mixed-breeds are believed to have less genetically inherited health problems than purebreds, according to veterinarian Dr. Sarah Ward Fatula. Plus, if you adopt your mixed-breed from the shelter, not only will they already be spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up to date with vaccines, but you’ll also be helping with the pet overpopulation problem. To find a shelter near you, visit the ASPCA’s website. SEE ALSO: The 10 Most Heroic Dogs Of All Time DON'T FORGET: Follow us on Facebook! Join the conversation about this story »
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Outgoing Greek prime minister's party suffers further defections ahead of September elections
A large block of hardline leftwing officials has left Greece's dominant Syriza party, highlighting the challenges Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faces ahead of national elections next month.
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New defections highlight plight of Greek dominant left party
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A large block of hardline leftwing officials has left Greece's dominant Syriza party, highlighting the challenges Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faces ahead of national elections next month.
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Enjoy Greek food, culture at Greek Fest
Even if you're not Greek, you can pretend you are at next weekend's Greek Fest. Now in its 53rd year, Rochester's Greek Fest offers kids and adults ...
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Greece to hold early elections on Sept 20
Without the rescue loans – Greece's third bailout in little more than five years – the country would have defaulted on its debts and faced being forced ...
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Greek Pole Vault Athlete Wins Bronze Medal in Beijing
Greek athlete Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou won the bronze medal at the women’s pole vault finals during the 15 th IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, after clearing a 4.55 meter jump in the semis on Monday. Greece’s pole vault ...
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A 10-Point Plan to Solve Europe's Refugee Crisis
BERLIN -- Europe is facing a great challenge for our generation. Never before have so many people fled political persecution and war as today. Many of them are seeking refuge here with us in Europe. In view of the crises in our neighborhood, we must assume that this could remain the case for years. And as Europeans, we owe it to ourselves and to the world to help them. One thing is clear: the response so far does not meet the standards that Europe must set for itself. The EU cannot put this off any longer -- we need to act now. We must therefore pursue a European asylum, refugee and migration policy that is founded on the principle of solidarity and our shared values of humanity. Ten points must urgently be addressed in this regard: Humane conditions must prevail throughout the EU wherever refugees are received. For this, we need EU-wide standards that are followed in every member state. We must guarantee a common European code of asylum, so that asylum status is valid throughout the EU and the conditions for receiving it are stable across member states. We need a fair distribution of refugees in Europe. German citizens are helping to receive and integrate refugees into our society as never before. But this solidarity will only be maintained in the long term if people see that the refugee crisis is being approached fairly throughout Europe. A state of affairs in which only a handful of member states shoulder the entire burden -- as happens today -- is just as unsustainable as a system which forces the countries on the EU's outer border to take the strain alone. We must therefore reform the Dublin Convention immediately, and find a way of creating binding and objective refugee quotas which take into account the ability of all member states to bear them. Europe also needs a common approach to managing its borders, which cannot be merely restricted to securing our frontiers. Above all, we need more European responsibility for registering and looking after newly arrived refugees. We must provide immediate assistance to the EU countries that are currently under particular strain. Germany is the only EU country to have made available emergency funds to improve the situation of refugees on the Greek islands. The EU and its member states must become more efficient in this area and quickly offer the countries which first receive refugees practical and financial support. For us in Germany, we must ensure that the municipal authorities are able to cope with the influx. In order to do this, we must provide them with lasting and systematic financial support. We cannot stand idly by and watch people risk their lives trying to get to us. The Mediterranean Sea cannot be a mass grave for desperate refugees. Europe's humanitarian legacy, indeed our European view of humanity, are hanging in the balance. With this in mind, we launched enormous concerted efforts to organize marine rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea in the spring. But we must consolidate these efforts across Europe, and equip the EU with the required capacities. At the same time, we can only help genuine refugees if those who are not entitled to asylum do eventually return to their countries of origin. For this, we must make readmission a key priority of our relations with the countries of origin, and also be prepared to make technical and financial support for these counties contingent on constructive cooperation. Existing incentives such as visa facilitations could be expanded. We must come to an EU-wide understanding as to which nations we consider safe to return people to. All countries of the western Balkans aim to join the EU, and we have good cause to extend to them the prospect of accession to the community. By the same token, this means that we cannot treat them as persecuting countries at the same time. In the future, a country that fulfills the criteria to be an EU accession candidate should be considered throughout the EU to be a safe country of origin. Germany needs an immigration act. We need a prudent, controlled immigration policy that facilitates lawful stays for the purposes of employment. We must reduce the burden on the asylum system in this area. Other countries may wish to follow suit. Finally, a comprehensive European asylum, refugee and migration policy also requires new political initiatives to fight the causes of flight in the countries of the Middle East and Africa. Stabilizing failing states and curbing violence and civil war must go hand in hand with concentrated efforts to achieve economic development and create genuine economic and social prospects -- especially for young people in the countries of origin. All of the international community's efforts, above all those of the European Union and the United Nations, must be focused with the utmost intensity on this aim. This piece was previously published by the German government. Also on WorldPost: -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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Greece says deal with Germany's Fraport should be completed in March
ATHENS Aug 26 Greece may wrap up a deal with Germany's Fraport in March for an airports concession the country promised to award to the private ...
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