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Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros

Monday, April 11, 2016

This 82-year-old Greek grandmother welcomes refugees into her home in Idomeni

April 9, 2016. The Vatican officially announced Pope Francis new international travels. They will be to Armenia (June 24-26), and to Georgia and Azerbaijan (September 30- October 2). April 7, 2016. Pope Francis will travel to the Greek island of Lesbos on ...


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Fortress Europe: An Interactive Map Of The EU's Growing List Of Security Barriers

_As unilateral border closures create riskier conditions for people on the move – and bottlenecks within transit countries – Refugees Deeply provides an overview of the barriers between European states, across the Mediterranean and North Africa and in the Caucasus._ It is August 2014 and the border police at Evros state their reasons to be proud. They have successfully deterred “illegal crossings” at the border between Greece and Turkey, which has been a migration frontier for decades. The 8 mile (12.5km) fence and a government-led sweep of illegal migrants that started on August 2, 2013, effectively thwarted a majority of crossings. According to police records, between August 2013 and January 2014, 1,710 people were arrested at the Evros border, compared to 35,258 in the previous six-month period. From January to April 2014, the arrivals at Evros were only 441, a manageable number compared to the months prior to the fence, when an average of 400 people would cross over every day. “Just before August 2013, we had arrested 6,000 people here and after erecting the fence it fell to 45 by next January,” explained the chief of border patrol. Fast forward to early 2016 and arrivals in Greece by sea have skyrocketed despite the harsh winter weather. What the police at Evros failed to mention two years ago is that the land fortification had already brought about glaring collateral damage. During the same period in 2014, the number of arrivals by sea in Greece increased by a startling 214 percent compared to the previous year. The Evros fence was one of the first security barriers to attract media headlines. The construction piqued the curiosity of Balkan neighbors, but also the ire of humanitarian organizations. The 6.5 mile (10.4km) long strip of pastoral land between Greek and Turkish villages had been the most popular way for migrants and asylum seekers from Africa and Asia and more recently the Middle East, following the “Arab Spring” uprisings in 2011, to enter Europe. While the European Commission advised against the construction, the Greek government, alarmed by a surge in the number of arrivals, unilaterally erected the fence. The closure would have a significant impact on the region. The number of arrivals by sea from Turkey would increase exponentially and the Balkan route would open up, causing a ripple effect from Bulgaria to Slovenia and farther into Western Europe. Greece was not the first country to erect a security barrier as a means of keeping out irregular migration, nor the last. From the U.K. in the north to Macedonia in the southeast, the list of barriers has been growing. _(Credit: Sebastian Viskanic)_ Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations such as Doctors without Borders (Medécins sans Frontières – MSF) have issued several reports reiterating that barriers and closures have not stopped movement. They have simply rerouted people, often through riskier means and with reduced humanitarian protection. MSF has called upon European governments to “dismantle obstacle course[s] and provide assistance and safe, legal passage to refugees and migrants fleeing desperate conditions” ahead of another peak of arrivals expected over the summer months this year. This week, as Greece begins to deport people en masse to Turkey under the current E.U.–Turkey deal, accusations against Turkish border officials of turning away Syrians fleeing conflict are mounting. Meanwhile, reports of increased arrivals through the central and western Mediterranean routes are simultaneously resurfacing. The Italian coastguard said it rescued 1,482 migrants off the Libyan coast in just two days on March 27–28 this year. Migrant Report, a nonprofit organization that documents the movement of people between Africa and Europe, claims a 300 percent increase in arrivals in the central Mediterranean over March, compared to last year. According to the organization, the recent spike in arrivals in Italy is consistent with its “research with various sources within migrant communities and smuggling networks in the Tripolitania area [the historic name of the region that included Tripoli and a vast northwestern portion of Libya] over the past two months.” Meanwhile, UNHCR reported an increase in the number of Syrian refugees registering in Morocco, a majority of whom will likely aim to reach Europe through Spain. While Spain’s Melilla border fence with Morocco, which comprises three parallel razor-wire fences, has shielded the country from a large number of arrivals, Spanish government officials are predicting increased smuggling networks and arrivals over the coming months, especially with the sealing of the Eastern Mediterranean route through the E.U.–Turkey deal. Providing legal migration pathways for asylum seekers before they enter the E.U. is a much-needed means of significantly reducing irregular crossings and curbing the smuggling trade, according to advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch and U.N. agencies. While providing an overview of Fortress Europe and Beyond, we will report on conditions and developments at the different borders, starting with photo essays from Calais, where French police recently evicted thousands of asylum seekers, and Idomeni, where 11,000 people remain stranded due to Macedonia closing its border with Greece. Alongside narratives that explore the humanitarian plight of people on the move, we will present alternatives to the current measures through experts, policymakers, researchers and practitioners. _This article originally appeared on Syria Deeply. For weekly updates about the war in Syria, you can sign up to the Syria Deeply email list._ -- 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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From Aleppo To Athens: Inside Two Syrian Families' Harrowing Journey To Europe

ATHENS, Greece -- Mazd and Rania got married about five months ago in their hometown of Aleppo, at around the same time Russian war planes started pounding the city in northern Syria. Today, the young couple live in a hotel room in Athens, waiting to start their lives anew. Mazd, an electrical engineer, and Rania, a computer science graduate, are participating in a program by Greek NGOs and the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, that helps resettle refugees in other countries and accommodates them in Greece while they wait to be relocated. “Before the war, everything was different.” Rania says. “We felt we had everything; we never thought of giving up our home. But then, social life stopped. People were isolated in their very close circle. Besides the danger and the fear, it was very difficult to cope in everyday life." “Salaries went down five times,” Mazd continues. “Before the war, there were no personal freedoms and you couldn't express an opinion, especially about political issues, but Syria was a safe country. We could go out until dawn without problems. Now, it's even hard and dangerous to find food or clothes. You live in poverty and in constant danger.” The couple’s hometown, Aleppo, was once a bustling center for culture and commerce. By the time Mazd and Rania left, the city was split in two. One part was controlled by the regime of Syrian leader Bashar Assad. The other section was completely destroyed and controlled either by rebels from the Free Syrian Army or by Islamic State militants. After the start of the war, the couple moved in with family members in a regime-controlled neighborhood. “The situation kept getting worse until a few months ago, when the Russian air bombings started,” Rania recalls. “There are no shelters, so we just waited in our house for them to be over.” While their neighborhood had occasionally been bombed before, the scale of the bombings dramatically intensified after the Russian intervention. The couple had to change houses frequently, and felt their lives were constantly in danger. They'd had enough. A DANGEROUS JOURNEY THROUGH SYRIA The trip from Aleppo to the border with Turkey proved to be the most dangerous leg of Mazd and Rania's journey from Syria to Europe. They traveled by bus, often crossing roadblocks and areas controlled by opposing parties; at times, Rania had to cover everything but her eyes to avoid undue attention.   They crossed the Turkey-Syria border with help of traffickers, and then made their way to Istanbul. From there, they found a trafficker to help them with the next leg of their journey: crossing the Aegean Sea to Greece. Finding a trafficker wasn't hard. In fact, once in Istanbul, “it is very easy,” Mazd says. The couple found their trafficker through friends who had already made the crossing. Even if they hadn't been able to rely on their friends, the couple said there were other means of contact, since traffickers advertise on social media. After getting a ride to the Turkish coast, the couple reached the beach where they'd set off for Greece. They found more than 200 other refugees waiting to board the little boats that would take them across. The trafficker divided the group into boats of 40 people. Mazd and Rania say they were lucky. The sea was calm that day -- Feb. 23, 2016 -- and they didn't feel they were in danger. Officers from the Greek Coast Guard approached their small boat and accompanied them to the Greek island of Lesbos. FROM DESPAIR IN IDOMENI TO A HOTEL IN ATHENS From Lesbos, it took Mazd and Rania three days to reach the Greece-Macedonia border. When they arrived, they were confronted with some of the most difficult days of their journey. The refugee camp at the border was badly overcrowded, and the couple had trouble even finding a tent. “We got sick there,” Rania says. “They were telling us that the people who got there before others would cross the borders first, but basically everyone would go through as they could. At some point, we were just told the border was shut." Mazd and Rania had applied for the UNHCR relocation program before heading to Idomeni. They passed their interview with asylum services in late March and were brought to Athens with a group of other refugees. They’re staying in a hotel until they can be relocated to another country willing to receive them. The program is open to all refugees -- people whose home countries are too dangerous for them to return. Refugees in particularly vulnerable situations, like families with young children or people suffering from chronic illness, are prioritized. While the program has been running since last November, interest has spiked since Macedonia closed its border with Greece in March. Praksis, the Greek NGO that helped Mazd and Rania, has agreements with more than 15 hotels across Athens. More than 2,000 refugees are now living in hotel rooms in the capital, and another 500 refugees are sheltered in apartments. “We have been staying at the hotel for 10 days now. These are the quietest days since we left Aleppo,” Mazd says. Mazd and Rania want to continue their studies once they resettle. They'd like to live in Germany or France, where their family members and some of their professors live, but they know the program doesn’t allow refugees to choose the country they resettle in. Nor is it certain they’ll be able to stay indefinitely in the country they’re assigned to. Every country examines asylum claims individually, according to its own criteria. The two say they were shocked by the difficulties they encountered on their journey. Friends and acquaintances had said they’d make it to their destination in just five days. For now, Mazd and Rania will have to wait. It's officially supposed to take two months to complete the relocation process, but in practice, it takes longer. Still, they say they're grateful to UNHCR and Praksis for supporting them through the program. Rania says she'd like to return home when the war is over and the situation in Syria improves, but Mazd says he wouldn't. AHMAD AND SAMIA: FROM ISIS-HELD TERRITORY TO THE NETHERLANDS Ahmad, an electrical engineer, and Samia, a pharmacology student, lived in Aleppo until just a few weeks ago. Over the past year, they watched as Islamist militants took over their neighborhood and established new rules -- requiring, for example, that women completely cover themselves. The militants ruthlessly punished those who didn't comply. “If you disobey, the punishment is beheading,” Ahmad says. “The heads are exhibited on poles in the town.” The couple was eager to leave, but it wasn't easy. “We were trying to get out for months. But it was difficult, as you are deemed a traitor for wanting to go live where Islamic law doesn't apply,” Ahmad explains. But when Russian and Syrian army jets started to pummel the neighborhood earlier this year, the couple no longer had a choice. Bombs hit close to their house; nearby neighbors were killed. Ahmad says that out of 20,000 people living in their area, only a few hundred are left now -- either because they can't leave or because they support the Islamists. The couple escaped the city with their three children hidden under a big tarp in the back of a truck. They breathed a sigh of relief once the truck crossed into Free Syrian Army territory. From the FSA-held area, the family took a bus to the Syria-Turkey border and paid a trafficker $60 per person for help crossing into Turkey. “LIGHTS FROM AFAR GAVE US HOPE” Ahmad, Samia and their children stayed at the Turkey-Syria border for two months before taking the next step toward Europe. In the Turkish coastal city of Izmir, they paid another trafficker $700. With 40 other people, they were taken to the beach in a van late at night. Ahmad noticed that two cars went ahead of them, probably to check for police roadblocks. After waiting for hours on the beach, they boarded the rubber dinghy that would take them across the sea. “We crossed on Feb. 19," Ahmad says. "The sea was calm, but the boat was very slow. We got in at 2:30 and reached the shore at 6 a.m. While we were at sea, we were constantly hoping that a Greek Coast Guard ship would approach us. Finally, we reached the shores of Lesbos on our own. Its lights from afar gave us hope.” In Lesbos, Ahmad was filled in on UNHCR’s accommodation and relocation program. He was immediately drawn to it because it was legal -- he was tired and wanted to avoid traffickers and the hide-and-seek game at the border.    “WE ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF” The family now lives in an apartment in Athens provided by the program. “We are being taken care of. The people of Praksis give us food, clothes, toys. They truly support us,” Ahmad says. Ahmad's extended family is scattered because of the war: One brother lives in Lebanon, another in Turkey, and one of his sisters is still in Syria. Ahmed’s father is also part of the relocation program and lives in a hotel nearby. Ahmed goes to see him every afternoon. In just a few days, the family will depart for the Netherlands. “I want us to have a normal life, do postgraduate studies, find a job. Most of all, I want my children to have an education,” Ahmed says. “My son is seven years old and he hasn't been to school yet; the jihadists shut them down. They want uneducated people whom they can manipulate. There are 10-year-old children among them, armed and dangerous.” “There are three kinds of people among the jihadis,” Ahmad continues. "Robbers and looters, agents of secret services and uneducated, stupid people who follow like sheep and don't understand that Islam is thinking, loving and taking care of your fellow man, not wishing his death.” _This story originally appeared in __HuffPost Greece. It has been __translated into English and edited for clarity._ -- 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-FYROM diplomatic row deepens

The situation on the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is under control. But the atmosphere remains tense. Tear gas canisters lie all around – a tangible sign of the violent confrontation that took place here on Sunday.


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GREECE protests "unacceptable" violence against refugees by FYROM forces

ATHENS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- GREECE'S political leadership on Monday strongly condemned the "unacceptable" injuries of hundreds of refugees by ...


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'Deplorable': Refugees Face Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets At GREECE-Macedonia Border

A refugee runs amidst a backdrop of teargas fired by riot police at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, GREECE, Sunday, April 10, 2016.


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GREECE and creditors 'make progress' in review talks

GREECE and its international lenders have made “progress” in talks on a review of Greek reforms needed to unlock new money, as talks continued on ...


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Violence, use of teargas at Greek border ‘matter of great worry’ to UN refugee agency

11 April 2016 – The United Nations refugee agency today expressed concern about yesterday’s violence at the border between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia border near Eidomeni and the extensive scenes of teargas in use ...


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Low Levels of Refugee and Migrant Arrivals

Refugee and migrant arrivals on the Greek islands remained at low levels in the last three days. Despite the excellent weather conditions prevailing in the area, only 176 arrivals were recorded from Friday to early Monday. 53,117 Ιdentified Refugees and Migrants in Greece on Monday 53,117 refugees and migrants were on the Greek territory on


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Scuffles at Greek-Macedonian border, day after dozens injured

The minor trouble came a day after dozens of migrants and refugees were injured in clashes with Macedonian police which the Greek prime minister deplored as "a disgrace for European civilization". More than 10,000 migrants and refugees have been stranded ...


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Greece tries to coax camped-out migrants into centres as tourist season nears

By Lefteris Karagiannopoulos ATHENS (Reuters) - Keen to clear the decks for its lucrative summer tourist season, Greece is trying to clear thousands of migrants out of its biggest port where they are sleeping rough by persuading them that they are better off in organised reception centres. More than 50,000 migrants have been stranded in Greece because of multiple border closures across the Balkans to the north, sealing off a land corridor to wealthy northwestern Europe used by a million people before them fleeing conflict and deprivation in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The port of Piraeus is the main gateway to Greece's Aegean islands beloved of tourists - but also for an annual exodus of Greeks from the mainland to celebrate Orthodox Easter.


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Greece condemns Macedonian use of force to stop migrants crossing border

ATHENS–Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Monday accused Macedonia of “shameful” actions, after Macedonian police used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets in attempt to prevent migrants crossing the border between the two countries Sunday.


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Six Senses Spa in Crete launches innovative Kids Wellness Program @apivitaSA @Elounda_SA_

… Peninsula All Suite Hotel in Crete have devised an interactive programme … bee products, in partnership with Greek personal care product manufacturer Apivita …


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IMF – Greece’s program: Lagarde admits “Mistakes in Fiscal Multipliers”, no consideration of Human Factor & Elections

For one more time, the International Monetary Fund admitted that it has made mistakes in its program for Greece. This time the mistakes admission came by the Managing Director of the Fund, Christine Lagarde. “We have acknowledged one mistake, which had to do with the fiscal multipliers,” Lagarde told Bloomberg […]


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Greece blasts Macedonia over migrant border violence

[There are an estimated 11,000 migrants and refugees stranded at the flashpoint Idomeni crossing, many of them fleeing war in Syria and Iraq]Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused neighbouring Macedonia on Monday of "shaming" Europe by firing tear gas and rubber bullets at migrants desperately trying to break through a border fence.


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UNHCR statement on violence on the GREECE-FYROM border on 10 April

Yesterday's violence at the GREECE-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia border near Eidomeni and the extensive scenes we have all seen of ...


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Police prevent anti-migrant protesters from attacking refugees at Greek port

COURTESY: RT's RUPTLY video agency, NO RE-UPLOAD, NO REUSE - FOR LICENSING, PLEASE, CONTACT http://ruptly.tv A group of far-right activists clashed with Greek police near the port of Piraeus on Sunday. The protesters were attempting to enter the port to ...


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Turkish F-16 Fighters Violate GREEK Airspace Over Aegean Sea

The GREEK military recorded over 1,400 cases of national airspace violations in 2015, according to aggregate incidents' data published on the Hellenic ...


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Greek gymnast Petrounias to start Rio Olympic torch relay

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — World gymnastics champion Eleftherios Petrounias will start the torch relay for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on April 21.


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The 19 best places for a beach holiday in Europe, according to travelers

[Cannes]mffoto/Shutterstock The weather is gradually getting warmer across Europe, which means travellers are beginning to book their summer beach holidays all over the continent. To find out where exactly they're going this summer, the travel-booking site RoutePerfect.com has released data for the most popular beach destinations in Europe. The results are ranked according to thousands of bookings made by travellers either through or on the website. From the sandy shores of the Amalfi Coast to pebbled beaches in Liguria, Italian destinations unsurprisingly dominated the list. Coastal spots ranging from Croatia to Greece — known for their history, culture, and parties — also made the cut. Check out the 19 most popular destinations for a beach holiday below, along with comments from RoutePerfect.com's CEO, Boaz Lantsman. NO. 19. CAGLIARI, SARDINIA, ITALY — CAGLIARI'S COASTLINE TOTALS MORE THAN 8 MILES, WITH PLENTY OF BEACHES TO ATTRACT HOLIDAY-MAKERS. THE SARDINIAN CITY'S MOST POPULAR BEACH, POETTO, BELOW, IS USUALLY TEEMING WITH TOURISTS AND LOCALS THANKS TO THE MANY BARS AND RESTAURANTS NEARBY. clurr/Flickr NO. 18. ELBA ISLAND, ITALY — THIS TUSCAN ISLAND IS KNOWN FOR ITS PRISTINE BEACHES WITH CLEAR, TURQUOISE WATER AND GOLDEN SAND, MAKING IT A PRIME HOLIDAY SPOT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. leonori/Shutterstock NO. 17. HVAR, CROATIA — THIS ANCIENT SEASIDE TOWN COMBINES HISTORY, CULTURE, AND BEAUTIFUL BEACHES WITH TRANSPARENT WATER AND WHITE SAND. Evgeniya Moroz/Shutterstock SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER


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Turkey found a new central bank head - Here's what's happening in FX

[Screen Shot 2016 04 11 at 7.46.45 AM] Good morning!  Aside from a couple of small moves, things are pretty quiet in FX on Monday, April 11 as of 8:15 a.m. The biggest mover is the TURKISH LIRA, which is stronger by 0.7% at 2.8282 per dollar. The currency's surge follows news that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu chose Murat Cetinkaya, a deputy central bank governor, to be the new governor, according to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg. His name will be circulated for approval at a cabinet meeting on Monday, officials told Reuters. Commenting on the news in a note to clients, Capital Economics' William Jackson wrote, "As we understand it, his appointment reflects a compromise between Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who wanted to renew [the current governor's] term, and President Erdogan, who wanted a governor prepared to loosen monetary conditions more aggressively." "Mr. Cetinkaya’s appointment (so long as it is confirmed by the government) is likely to be welcomed by the markets insofar as it suggests that Mr. Erdogan has not entirely got his way," he added. As for the rest of the world, things are pretty quiet. Here's the scoreboard: * The CHINESE YUAN slipped 0.1% to 6.4726 per dollar after data showed consumer prices rose 2.3% year-over-year in March, in-line with February, but shy of the 2.4% print that economists were forecasting. Pork prices surged 28.4% YoY and fresh vegetable prices jumped 35.8% YoY. * The JAPANESE YEN is little changed at 108.25 after briefly touching as high as 107.63 early in the day. Eisuke Sakakibara, the former Finance Ministry official in charge of currency intervention in Japan who was nicknamed "Mr. Yen for his ability to influence the exchange rate in the 1990s," said the currency could strengthen to 105 in the new few months, and to 100 by year-end, according to Bloomberg. * The BRITISH POUND is up 0.7% at 1.4226. The British Chamber of Commerce's (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey recently showed that the UK economy "lost steam" in the first quarter. * The EURO is little changed at 1.1391 on a quiet day as Greece continues to haggle with its creditors over ahead of their May deadline. “We’ll find a solution in the coming weeks,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Sunday in an interview with German public television channel ARD. This solution “has nothing to do with debt forgiveness, but with the fact that Greece needs to do more” to return to a competitive economy, he added. * The DOLLAR INDEX is slightly weaker by 0.1% at 94.12 ahead a quiet day. The week's data starts on Tuesday with import/export prices and the Treasury budget. SEE ALSO: 14 INCREDIBLE FACTS ABOUT TEXAS Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: The easiest way to clear out a ton of space on your iPhone superfast


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The Latest: Finland tightens controls at Russian border

[Migrant men shows used tear gas canisters apparently used by Macedonian police during yesterday riots at the fence of a makeshift camp in the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, April 11, 2016. More than 12,000 people have been stuck at the Idomeni border point for more than a month hoping that it would reopen. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)]ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Latest on issues involving migrants in Europe (all times local):


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Tensions High on GREECE-Macedonia Border Following Migrant Clash

More than 10,000 migrants and refugees have been stranded at the Idomeni border crossing in northern GREECE since mid-February after the Balkan ...


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IMF Chief: GREECE Just Sits and Waits, Government Must Assume Responsibility

GREECE refuses to take ownership of reforms and measures and stalls negotiations, said International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine ...


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Greece, UNHCR condemn Macedonia tear gas at Idomeni

The UN refugee agency has condemned Macedonia's use of tear gas on refugees at its border with Greece. Fresh protests have broken out at the Idomeni crossing. "Time and again in recent months, we have seen tension unfolding at various European borders ...


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Macedonia calls on Greece to prevent migrant riots

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — A rift between Macedonia and Greece over the refugee crisis deepened Monday, with Macedonia accusing its southern neighbor of not reacting to prevent hundreds of migrants and refugees from attempting to breach a border fence ...


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Bulgaria: Import of GREEK peaches and apricots expected to increase

Bulgaria expects imports of GREEK fruits, like peaches and apricots, to increase due to the country's poor harvest prospects. Many growers have ...


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GREEK Tourists Branded Paedophiles For Taking Pictures Of Southend Fountain Near Children

Essex Police were called to Marine Parade, Southend, on Friday after reports that members of the public had confronted and detained three GREEK ...


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GREEK PM, Portuguese leader sign joint declaration for solidarity in refugee crisis, end to austerity

ATHENS, April 11, 2016 (Xinhua) -- GREEK Prime Mnister Alexis Tsipras (R) meets with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in the Maximos ...


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GREEK officials condemn Macedonians for use of force after 300 refugees injured

The actions of the Macedonian police represented "an excessive and asymmetrical use of force" that had created a "very difficult situation on GREEK ...


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GREEK Banks: Which One Do You Pick?

National Bank of Greece is the best capitalized and reserved GREEK bank, holds 30% of the deposits, and has gained 2% deposit market share.


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Hundreds Hurt as Migrants Clash With Macedonian Police

Thousands remain in tents on the Greek-Macedonia border, unable to move north and unwilling to relocate elsewhere in Greece.


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U.S. Mission to Athens and CSB Donate Essential Humanitarian Supplies for Refugees and Migrants

The U.S. mission to Athens and the 409 Contracting Support Brigade(CSB)of the U.S. Army on April 7-8 donated essential humanitarian supplies for migrants and refugees in Greece on behalf of the U.S. Government. Beds, sleeping bags, blankets and other material were offered to the First Reception Service of the Greek Republic for distribution to refugee


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World Press View: Greece Can Forget About Debt Cut

Greece's hopes for debt relief won't include a cut in what it owes in 240 billion euros in three bailouts, its bigger lender, Germany declared outright.


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FYROM asks GREECE to fully engage police forces

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has asked GREECE to fully engage its police forces to prevent what it called the violent rioting of ...


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Idomeni: Greece sends two demarches to FYROM, Skopje complaints about Greek authorities

Greek Foreign Ministry complained with “two severe demarches” to FYROM about the “unacceptable incidents” on Sunday in Idomeni, where police forces and army units fired teargas and stun grenades against refugees and migrants for more than 4-5 hours. On its side FYROM put the blame on Greece complaining that Athens […]


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Just 18 refugees arrive in Greece in past 24 hours after EU deportation deal

Only 18 refugees have entered Greece by sea over the past … 53,000 remained stranded in Greece, through which more than a … north, despite repeated appeals from Greek authorities to relocate to organised …


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Greece and troika move closer to review of bailout deal

… /3wDF6hvZit pic.twitter.com/U2RQoQwHQ4— kathimerini.gr (@kathimerini_gr) April 3, 2016 … EU and IMF on whether Greece can meet the 3.5 … 5-year plan, the global economy, Greece and Trump https://t.co …


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Europe Refugee Crisis: GREEK Authorities Slam Macedonia Over 'Excessive' Force Against Asylum ...

GREEK authorities slammed Macedonia for its response to a confrontation with refugees and economic migrants along the nations' border, saying its ...


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Grape breeders sue GREEK nursery for rights

Grapa and SNFL became aware that a GREEK nursery, without a licence from either Grapa or SNFL, was propagating grape vines of Early Sweet and ...


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Greek PM says IMF insists on wrong polices in Greece

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Monday the International Monetary Fund was insisting on adopting wrong policies in Greece after having admitted its mistakes in the two previous bailouts. "In Greece wrong policies were applied ...


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Cyprus, Greece, Jordan hold trilateral meeting in Nicosia (Updated)

Cyprus, Greece and Jordan on Monday held their first trilateral meeting at the level of permanent secretaries of foreign ministries in Nicosia. Permanent Secretary of the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Alexandros Zenon, his Greek ...


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Greece Denies FYROM Police Operated on Greek Soil to Thwart Refugees

Citizen Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Toskas stated that FYROM police did not operate on Greek soil to thwart migrants during Sunday’s violent riot on the neutral zone between the two countries at Idomeni. Speaking on Skai television on Monday morning ...


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UNHCR condemns use of tear gas against refugees at Macedonia-Greece border

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR condemned on Monday the use of tear gas by Macedonian police against refugees on the border with Greece and said such action damaged Europe's image.


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Refugees, Police Hurt in Clashes at Macedonian-Greek Border

The Republic of Macedonia accused aid groups of organizing an attempt to send refugees across the border and Greece condemned its northern neighbor’s actions after clashes injured hundreds of migrants and 23 security officers. Macedonian police used tear ...


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JOINT STATEMENT 1st Trilateral Political Consultations between the Secretaries General of the ...

Following the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Cyprus, Jordan and Greece in Brussels, on 18 January 2016, the 1st Trilateral Political Consultations at the level of the Secretaries General of the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs were held in Nicosia on 11 April, 2016.The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Ambassador Alexandros N. Zenon, hosted a meeting with his counterparts from Jordan and Greece, Secretary General, Ambassador “Mah’d Taisir” Bani Yassin and Secretary General, Ambassador Dimitrios Paraskevopoulos, respectively.The Parties focused on the prospects for trilateral cooperation in the fields of:•    Anti-terrorism Cooperation / Security•    Refugee...


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Macedonia issues call to GREECE over migrant border clashes

Macedonia has asked GREECE to fully engage its police forces to prevent what it called the violent rioting of migrants and attempts to illegally cross the ...


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Lagarde admits to IMF mistakes, urges GREEK gov't to do more

The GREEK leaders will need to take more ownership of reestablishing their country,” Lagarde said adding that she saw no risk of Greece leaving the ...


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The Latest: Macedonia Wants Greek Police Active at Border

Macedonia has asked Greece to fully engage its police forces to prevent what it called the violent rioting of migrants and attempts to illegally cross the border. Monday's call came a day after seven-hour clashes between Macedonian security forces and ...


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NGOs and the Lucrative Business of the Refugee Crisis in Greece

The refugee crisis has created a lucrative business for several “volunteer” organizations and individuals who operate where masses of refugees and migrants are gathered, selling false hope to the hapless people. According to a Real News newspaper report, dozens of non-government organizations operate at the moment at the Idomeni and Piraeus Port makeshift refugee camps


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