Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-04-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Tsipras chairs government council on refugee policy

[02] Alternate Migration Min Mouzalas has series of meetings at UNHCR Conference on Refugees in Geneva

[03] At least 631 refugees leave Piraeus port

[04] 401 refugees and migrants arrive at northeastern Aegean islands

[01] PM Tsipras chairs government council on refugee policy

[02] Alternate Migration Min Mouzalas has series of meetings at UNHCR Conference on Refugees in Geneva

Mouzalas met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) William Lacy Swing, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General for Migration and Refugees Karen AbuZayd, the special representative of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees Tomar Bocek, the Deputy US Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom, the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Ali Naci Koru and the Minister of Social Affairs of Lebanon Rachid Derbas.

The Greek minister explained that reception centres are not detention centres and underlined that the identification procedure is carried out in Greece with 100-percent security. However, the relocation procedure, which depends on the actions of other EU member states, is delayed while the resettlement from Turkey to other EU member states has not even started yet.

Regarding the contribution of member states to Greece's request for strengthening Frontex forces (European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the EU Member States) and EASO (European Support Office 'Asylum) does not exceed 30 percent of that requested.

Mouzalas noted that the agreement is difficult to be implemented because of the involvement of a lot of parties, the insufficient EU response on the assistance promised, the confusing stance of Turkey and the procedures of harmonizing legal aspects of the agreement with international treaties.

[03] At least 631 refugees leave Piraeus port

"Ariadni" ferry carrying 27 refugees from Mytilene arrived at Piraeus port earlier in the day as well as "Preveli" ferry with 5 refugees on board from the Dodekanese.

Another 33 persons were transferred last night by the ferry "Nisos Mykonos."

[04] 401 refugees and migrants arrive at northeastern Aegean islands

More specifically, 190 persons arrived on Lesvos and 211 on Chios.

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