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U.S. NEWSTuesday 26 January 2016

EU ministers consider isolating Greece and its migrants

Amnesty International activists protest against the ongoing migrants crisis with a boat filled with struggling to cope with the the history books.”
mannequins wearing life vests outside the Maritime Museum, rear, during an informal meeting of flow, but blamed EU mem- The meeting comes only
EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers at the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Mon- ber states for failing to days after European Coun-
day, Jan. 25, 2016. provide enough man- cil President Donald Tusk
power and boats to patrol warned that Europe’s
(AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Aegean Sea islands just passport-free travel area,
a few kilometers (miles) known as Schengen, could
MIKE CORDER are arriving in Greece dai- if they can’t stop the mi- from Turkey’s coast and break apart if the migrant
Associated Press ly, according toEU figures. grants reaching Greece, not honoring pledges to strategy isn’t sorted out
AMSTERDAM (AP) — Euro- Athens is under pressure they would consider help- relocate migrants. Mou- within two months.
pean Union nations took a to register and keep those ing Greece’s neighbor zalas told reporters Athens Meanwhile in Brussels, Den-
step Monday toward iso- coming in. Several EU na- Macedonia to better seal wanted 1,800 officers from mark’s foreign and immi-
lating Greece amid acri- tions have said that they its border to slow the move- the EU border patrol force gration ministers sought to
mony over Athens’ failure could isolate Greece by ment of migrants into other known as Frontex, but got ease tensions over govern-
to stem the flow of migrants closing off their borders so European countries, said only 800. Of the 28 coast ment plans to seize some
at its Mediterranean island that incoming refugees Dutch State Secretary Klaas guard ships requested by of the assets of asylum-
borders. Despite choppy would have to remain Dijkhoff. Greek Immigration Greece, only six have ar- seekers to pay for their
seas and wintry conditions, there. The member states Minister Ioannis Mouzalas rived, he added. food and lodging.
more than 2,000 people “gave a clear signal” that conceded his country was Mouzalas called the idea Under the plan, people
of sending Frontex officers would be allowed to keep
to the Greek-Macedonian 1,300 euros ($1,400). Any
border to halt migrants assets or cash beyond that
there “illegal” and insist- amount could be taken
ed more Frontex officers unless the items hold senti-
should be sent to his coun- mental value, like wedding
try instead. rings. “Those people who
Ministers arriving for the can manage by them-
meeting at Amsterdam’s selves shouldn’t have assis-
Maritime Museum were tance from the state,” Mi-
met by protesters in two gration Minister Inger Stoej-
boats, one full of showroom berg told EU lawmakers.
dummies wearing red life The new plan, which has
vests similar to those worn been criticized by rights
by migrants crossing from and refugee groups as well
Turkey and another with a as migrants themselves, is
large sign saying: “Leaders to be debated in the Dan-
of Europe, it’s not the polls ish parliament on Tuesday.
you should worry about. It’s Denmark received 21,300
asylum-seekers, one of the
Iran’s Rouhani begins 4-day European visit highest rates per capita in
the EU, last year, and has
ROME (AP) — Italy’s premier first step for a new season is eager for foreign invest- political talks leading to the introduced tougher bor-
said Monday that Iranian of peace and prosperity, ments after the lifting of in- nuclear deal could provide der controls until at least
President Hassan Rouhani, not just in Iran, but in all the ternational sanctions. The the blueprint for pursuing early next month. Euro-
kicking off the first state region.” trip was originally planned peace in the Middle East. pean Commissioner Frans
visit to Europe by an Iranian “If we reached a nuclear for November but post- “The question of security Timmermans told Dutch
president in nearly two de- deal, we can reach a deal poned by the attacks in for our region can’t be re- broadcaster NOS on Mon-
cades, “can play a funda- on Syria. We must reach a Paris. solved with military solu- day that 60 percent of mi-
mental role in the stability” deal on Syria,” Renzi said. After their meeting, Rou- tions,” he said. “We need grants entering Europe are
of the Middle East. Rouhani’s four-day visit to hani and Renzi looked on as to work through the politi- “from countries that you
Matteo Renzi told report- Italy and France is part of business counterparts from cal channels,” he said, call- can assume they have no
ers after meeting privately efforts by Iran to reach out the two countries signed a ing for the European Union right to asylum.” He said
with Rouhani that the land- to its old partners following series of agreements for fu- to contribute to a solution such “economic migrants”
mark deal on curbing Iran’s the implementation of the ture cooperation. “to find peace and security should be sent home more
nuclear activities “is just a nuclear deal, and Rouhani Rouhani told reporters the for our region.”q quickly, to ease pressure.
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