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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-06-26
CONTENTS
[01] FM Kotzias to attend emergency EU ministers meeting in Warsaw
on Monday
[02] Brexit will further hamper efforts to relocate refugees to EU,
says migration minister
[03] Canadair aircraft battling wildfire in Boeotia forced to land
[01] FM Kotzias to attend emergency EU ministers meeting in Warsaw
on Monday
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will attend a working lunch of the EU's
foreign ministers in Warsaw on Monday, which will discuss the future
of the Union after the result of the British referendum. The meeting
is an initiative of his Polish counterpart, Witold Waszczykowski.
[02] Brexit will further hamper efforts to relocate refugees to EU,
says migration minister
Britain's exit from the European Union will curve an already minimal
appetite among member-states to push ahead with the relocation of
refugees from Greece to other countries, Alternate Minister for Migration
Policy Yiannis Mouzalas said in an interview with Avghi newspaper,
published on Sunday.
"Before the Brexit, I'd say the EU's will - and especially that of some
countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands – was, at least on
a bilateral level, to relocate at least 15,000 to 20,000 refugees. But
after the Brexit, I cannot say how things will develop," Mouzalas was
quoted as telling the paper.
He also said the ministry is initiating a short-term plan that includes
closing down a significant number of informal camps by September. "The
government's plan is for these camps to be transformed and for refugees
and migrants to be distributed equally throughout Greece, near large
cities, in camps and apartments with less than 1,000 people by region,
so as to avoid creating ghettos and to start a process of gradual
integration, for as long as they remain in the country," he said.
[03] Canadair aircraft battling wildfire in Boeotia forced to land
A Canadair water bomber participating in a fire-fighting operation over
Dervenohoria, in the region of Boeotia, was forced to make an emergency
landing northwest of the wildfire for an unknown reason on Sunday.
According to the fire department, the two pilots are safe and were picked
up by an ambulance near the Monastery of Zoodohos Pigi for precautionary
reasons. It also said an Air Force crew will investigate the reasons for
the emergency landing. The Canadair CL-215 is one of the old aircraft
used in aerial firefighting for which numerous reports have been filed.
The fire, which started last night near the village of Stefani, is still
underway. Seven more aircraft are participating in the operation along
with five helicopters and a large ground team.
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