Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-12-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't vice president Dragasakis meets with Turkish ambassador Çevik

[02] Legal status in the Aegean has been clarified explicitly in the international treaties and conventions, says FM spokesman Efthymiou

[03] More than 1,200 unaccompanied children refugees on waiting lists for suitable accommodation

[01] Gov't vice president Dragasakis meets with Turkish ambassador Çevik

The two officials discussed the international economic and political developments and according to the vice president's office, Dragasakis recognised the need for further strengthening of the relations between Greece and Turkey as a factor of stability in a volatile period at regional and international level".

Both reaffirmed their commitment in the cooperation of the two countries with focus on the "important role the trade relations can play in the strengthening of the bilateral economic relations".

[02] Legal status in the Aegean has been clarified explicitly in the international treaties and conventions, says FM spokesman Efthymiou

"The public reiteration of a legally groundless position does not make that position any less unsound, nor can it lend it any legal standing.

The legal status in the Aegean has been clarified explicitly in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, the Italian-Turkish Convention and Protocol of 1932, and the 1947 Treaty of Paris, which clearly determine Greece's sovereignty over the islands and islets of the Aegean, including Imia.

Turkey needs to decide whether or not it respects international law, international conventions and agreements. It needs to make clear whether it perceives that international law stands above domestic expediencies", said Efthymiou.

[03] More than 1,200 unaccompanied children refugees on waiting lists for suitable accommodation

In total, about 2,500 unaccompanied children live among the 62,000 refugees and migrants who remain in Greece, with 286 of those living in closed detention centers and another two locked up in police stations, Souliotis said.

Additionally, another 524 unaccompanied minors arrived in Greece from August to October this year while, by November 6, only 205 had been accepted for relocation to another European country. In general, it takes more than 11 months to achieve a family reunion with the child's relatives, he said.

"The absence of structures for unaccompanied children is a big shortcoming on the side of the state," he admitted and added: "The need creates a different reality from what the traditional methods can resolve and we believe that we must become more inventive."

Souliotis also said that there has been a large increase of refugees and migrants who claim to be minors and are transferred into specialized accommodation as it is difficult to verify the age. However, if they are not underage, they could pose a threat to the other children, he noted.

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