Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-04-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Contingency measures will be set at a Eurogroup meeting, EU official tells ANA-MPA

[02] EU Commission president Juncker has phone contact with PM Tsipras

[03] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos inaugurates EU Regional Task Force's new building in Catania

[04] 53,717 refugees and migrants in Greece on Thursday; low level flows to Aegean islands

[05] Greek economy stabilises without pension and salary cuts, State Min Pappas says

[06] Foreign ministry calls on Turkey to protect Christian churches in Istanbul

[01] Contingency measures will be set at a Eurogroup meeting, EU official tells ANA-MPA

He also stated that this issue as well as the debt issue is beyond the task of the institutions' mission in Athens adding that the deal on the package of necessary measures is being successfully completed.

The same source noted the Eurogroup meeting date has not been set yet.

[02] EU Commission president Juncker has phone contact with PM Tsipras

Juncker said to Tsipras that he will try hard in order the Eurogroup to convene soon.

On Wednesday, Juncker said that the specific contingency measures demanded from Greece by its creditors are 'unreasonable' and 'unconstitutional' adding that no democracy in the world would accept such a demand for contingency measures.

The Greek prime minister is also expected to have a phone contact with the president of the European Council Donald Tusk later on Thursday.

[03] EU Commissioner Avramopoulos inaugurates EU Regional Task Force's new building in Catania

Avramopoulos met with the Italian Interior Minister Angelina Alfano and Frontex's executive director Fabrice Leggeri to discuss the current developments.

"Europe is right here in front of you, supporting Italy which is bearing on its shoulders an important share of the responsibility in the refugee crisis," Avramopoulos underlined. "With the inauguration of the new building of the EU Regional Task Force, we have taken another important step in consolidating our hotspot approach here in Italy," he added.

"As I have repeatedly said during my previous visits in Italy: in this crisis, this very complex situation Italy is not alone. Europe is standing by Italy," the EU Commissioner stressed.

[04] 53,717 refugees and migrants in Greece on Thursday; low level flows to Aegean islands

According to the Refugee Crisis Management Coordination Body's figures, 29,293 of the refugees are in northern Greece, 10,172 of them are in Idomeni camp, 14,393 are hosted in the region of Attica, 7,773 on the Greek islands and 2,258 are hosted in different areas in central and southern Greece.

Meanwhile, refugees and migrants' flow to the islands of the northern Aegean remain at low levels.

Only 41 persons arrived on Lesvos in the last 24 hours while no arrivals were reported on Chios and Samos.

[05] Greek economy stabilises without pension and salary cuts, State Min Pappas says

Pappas noted that "New Democracy continues to bet on destabilisation" and asked the main opposition if it considers necessary the imposition of additional measures as requested by the IMF.

[06] Foreign ministry calls on Turkey to protect Christian churches in Istanbul

"In view of the Easter holidays, we expect the Turkish authorities to honor their relevant commitments and take all necessary measures to protect the Christian churches and ensure that the faithful can participate unhindered in the religious events of these days," the Foreign ministry said in an announcement.

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