Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras meets Merkel, Cameron on Syria donors conference sidelines

[01] Tsipras meets Merkel, Cameron on Syria donors conference sidelines

According to an announcement issued by the Greek premier's press office, they discussed the progress of Greece's economic programme and management of the refugee crisis.

Merkel and Tsipras agreed that February will be a crucial month for the management of the refugee issue and that all the parties involved, including the EU member-states and Turkey, must fulfill the commitments they have undertaken.

Tsipras was also meeting UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday afternoon and is afterward scheduled to meet European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

When he addresses the donors' conference, the Greek prime minister is expected to highlight the need for a more long-term strategic approach, focusing on efficient and humane management of refugee flows.

According to government sources, the answer is to cooperate with and assist the countries bordering Syria, which have to carry the burden of millions of refugees.

"We must work for a strong resettlement programme in Europe and in other countries," the sources said, while at the same time exerting pressure for a political solution in the Syrian conflict that will end the attacks on civilians and tackle terrorism. Such a settlement would create conditions of reconciliation and for the return of Syrians to their homes, they added.

Tsipras is expected to highlight the fact that Greece, despite being on the front line of the refugee flows, insists on facing the crisis with humanity, unlike others. He is also expected to ask what the fate of millions of Syrians would have been if Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon had decided to raise walls and refused to let them enter.

He will noted that Greece has dealt with migration flows exceeding 900,000 people since July, of which 500,000 were Syrians, and that the cost of these flows was immense given that the coast guard had rescued more than 150,000 migrants and refugees.

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