Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-06-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Refugee issue must be resolved jointly, President Pavlopoulos tells French PM

[02] Parliament passes final prior actions needed to conclude review with Israel, Egypt agreements

[03] ECB to decide on waiver for Greek bonds at later meeting, Draghi says

[04] Syrian man loses asylum plea in appeals committee in Lesvos

[05] Warning work stoppages on Athens metro, tram starting on June 6

[01] Refugee issue must be resolved jointly, President Pavlopoulos tells French PM

Welcoming the French leader, Pavlopoulos said Greece does not forget France's crucial contribution in keeping the country in the EU and the Eurozone. "Greece will continue with great sacrifices to remain at the core of Europe," Pavlopoulos said, adding that the rule of law must not be affected.

Commenting on the refugee crisis, Pavlopoulos said the two countries must tackle the issue jointly and noted Turkey's responsibility in implementing its side of the EU-Turkey deal. He also said that Frontex must now be converted to a European coast guard. Most importantly, the war in Syria must stop and the EU should tackle terrorism, whose effects France suffered dearly, Pavlopoulos said.

On his side, Valls said the aim of his meeting is to strengthen relations between the two countries, following the visit of French President Francois Hollande a few months ago. He commented on France's support in keeping Greece in the Eurozone and added that his country will continue to do so in order to reach a viable solution.

He said Greece is the first entry point of refugees and that Greece should count on France's and EU's help on the issue. The priority for everyone in the EU is the security of the borders and noted that the war in Syria must end. Valls also spoke about the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking to ANA-MPA after the meeting with Pavlopoulos, Valls said: "I came to Athens shortly after the visit of the French President Francois Hollande and this shows that France wants to further strengthen its friendship and cooperation with the Greek people. France supported and strongly supports Greece's stay in the euro. We continue and will continue to support Greece in its efforts to exit the crisis."

[02] Parliament passes final prior actions needed to conclude review with Israel, Egypt agreements

The international agreements were backed by all the political parties except the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), and Golden Dawn, which abstained during the vote regarding cooperation with Israel and voted against the article on SESAR.

The amendments for the prior actions were passed with the support of ruling coalition (SYRIZA-ANEL) MPs only. They include measures for the contingency fiscal mechanism, the EKAS low pension benefit, loans on primary residences and state-guaranteed non-performing loans, ADMIE, the special wage scales and others.

The Democratic Coalition walked out of the vote on the bill as a whole, while KKE had departed earlier, before the debate was concluded, in order to not "legitimise the amendment allowing banks to sell management of loans for primary residences up to 140,000 euros to distress funds."

[03] ECB to decide on waiver for Greek bonds at later meeting, Draghi says

Draghi noted the significant progress made in implementing the Greek programme, as reflected in the Eurogroup decision on May 24, but also that the process of implementing prior actions was continuing.

The ECB president said that the ECB will accept Greek bonds as soon as Athens has concluded the process of adopting the prior actions, with a decision to be taken at a future meeting of the ECB's board.

Greece is seeking a 'waiver' allowing the ECB to accept Greek government debt as collateral for central bank cash even if it does not have an investment-grade credit rating.

The Greek government on Thursday tabled a series of amendments in Parliament that it says will tie up all the loose ends noted by the institutions on May 24, allowing the disbursement of the first sub-tranche of loans amounting to 7.5 billion euros.

If the ECB decides on a waiver and accepts Greek bonds, the country's banks will be able to borrow from the ECB at cheaper rates rather than relying exclusively on expensive borrowing from the Emergency Liquidity Assistance, where the average interest rate charged is estimated to be around 100 to 150 basis points above the ECB's benchmark interest rate.

[04] Syrian man loses asylum plea in appeals committee in Lesvos

The decision for the 46-year-old refugee who arrived in Lesvos after the EU-Turkey deal was signed is, according to information so far, the first negative decision on a second degree that has been issued.

The committee rejected as unreliable the applicant's claims that he is gay and was threatened by two ISIS members in Turkey. It also said that since the applicant had previously chosen Istanbul as a place of residence - considering he divided his time between Turkey and Nigeria due to work - there is a sufficient connection with the country. Taking the above evidence under consideration, the committee decided there's no real fear for his life, health and integrity in Turkey.

The man's lawyers have already submitted a request for interim measures before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, to suspend his deportation.

[05] Warning work stoppages on Athens metro, tram starting on June 6

Urban Rail Transport (STASY) staff have announced work stoppages on the following days and times:

Monday, June 6 from the start of the shift until 10:00

Wednesday, June 8 from 12:00 to 16:00

Friday, June 10 from 22:00 to the end of the shift

Monday, June 13 from the start of the shift until 10:00

Wednesday, June 15 from 21:00 until the end of the shift

Friday, June 17 from 12:00 to 17:00

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