Exclusive: A Deal, Yes, yes, A deal! #Greece possibly HAS an agreement.
Month: May 2015
Yes, #Greece Closer to agreement, negotiations turn suddenly to positive point, Angela Merkel gave a boost
Negotiations for Greek agreement have taken ‘sudden, positive turn’
There has been a sudden, positive change in the Brussels Group, during the final stretch in efforts to achieve an agreement between the Greek government and its partners, a source in Brussels reported on Friday.
According to the source, there were only “very few elements left” on which a substantive solution had yet to be found, so that an agreement can be reached.
These had to do with taxation on property and the size of VAT rates, the source added.
Based on information given to the Spanish newspaper “El Mundo,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened on Friday so that progress would be made and the sides arrive at an agreement.
Earlier on Friday European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici’s spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt had said that discussions at the Brussels Group had been continuing and that “there is not ultimatum about when its work much be concluded”.
Meanwhile European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas, stressed that
all three institutions in the talks were “working on one main scenario,” which was that Greece should remain in the eurozone.
The spokesman had been asked to comment on a statement made by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde to a German newspaper on the possibility that Greece might exit the euro.
Margaritis referred to a recent interview given by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to that effect, in which Juncker noted that the three institutions might occasionally have different viewpoints but a single goal.
Greek sources said that technical talks were held on Friday at various levels, with the negotiations on the level of the Brussels Group resuming in the early afternoon.Same sources said these talks were on issues such as VAT, public administration, pensions and mechanisms to collect public revenue, among others.
The sudden positive turn to talks was announced late afternoon time on Friday, after 15.00 Athens time, on May 29, 2015
“Political Solution will mean a techical one”, Greek ministers stated on air today, while, it’s interesting that back on February 20th, when the “bridge deal” had been signed between Greece and the Euro-lenders, PM Alexis Tsipras had stated “Technical Solution would mean a political one “
In the meanwhile the “Scotish shower technique” has been “rasping nerves and tolerance” of a whole nation , and the negotiators’ Greek side, as well as the world’s public opinion, which has been fed up with a four months’ no-way-out psychology of a deal between Greece and its lenders, which goes every single day,since the new government’s election, back and forth
Have an idea of this Scotish Taylor-made shower of Greece’s negotiations, just by today’s update of Brussels group as was reported by Guardian
Summary: Greece optimistic, creditors not so much
Time for a recap:
Greece’s top negotiator has predicted that political intervention will be needed to finally close a deal with creditors, as time continues to tick away.
Euclid Tsakalotos told us today that the two sides are converging, but also criticised the International Monetar Fund for being “very very tough”.
In Athens, the Greek government has declared it hopes to get a deal by Sunday.
But creditors have both questioned this optimism; the IMF is insisting on sweeping reforms and credible surplus targets, while the European Commission warns that more work must be done.
In the last few minutes, Christine Lagarde warned that a deal is very unlikely to come soon.
The European Central Bank piled more pressure on, saying that the financial markets could be rocked if the Greek crisis ends badly.
Greece has loomed over a meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs in Dresden
source :ANA/MPA
Close that Deal!
Greece is coming closer to a deal with lenders, while the “torture of the drop” of a four months plus pending for a deal is continuing … Visit our updated Page
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Such a wretchedness! A live misery on the biggest Aegean island’s central port
Resist to tie, Alexis, even if silk… Don’t do it “quick and dirty”, if agreement comes indeed
Agreement comes within a few days, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced today to the Greeks a day after the Riga summit, where the French the German leaders agreed on the significant progress achieved so far by the new government and the negotiations’ team, as was announced, and focused more, concentrated, to the open issues of the negotiation.
Alexis recieved a friendship attack in Riga, where they greeted him with smiles, hugs, flowers and silk . “Climate was so friendly” , as Greek PM stated in Riga to the press. Hugs from Eurogroup President , sweet smiles from the Chancellor, flowers to host his presence, and also … “silk for the seal “.
In a more than warm, hearty welcome that was waiting the Greek leader on the Eurogroup summit this time, Alexis Tsipras definitely took a breath from the unstoppable four months’ soul-and-mind daily attacks a whole nation recieved since the very first day of Alexis’ governance.
Surrounded by the cute-and-teasing mood of the Euro leaders who seemed much more familiar this time, the PM stated openly optimistic and confident about Greee’s luck, feeling obviously relaxed after the critical meetings . And sure it was a relaxing breath for the tensed Greek feeling, which acted like an antidote to the “emergency-operational ” style of this specific PM trip to Riga, where to he flew on a Greek Airforces’ C130 plane, instead of the PM’s airplane that lies immobilised on the ground, having run out of fuel, consequently to the country’s out of cash.
But the “special -effect” that sealed the Riga summit, came, unexpectedly to the world’s eyes, by the cute semiology gesture of Jean Claude Juncker, when he probed his tie on Alexis when the camera flashes lighted up .
It was not the first time that “tieless Alexis”,- who has swore to wear a tie only when the dept Greece’s problem will be resolved-, made headlines. Earlier attempt to “tie him with tie” was made by the PM of our “Master in Style” neighbor, Italy, Prime Minister Mateo Renzi, on Februry 3, when he offered in Rome Alexis a black tie, as a diplomatic visit etiquette “We want to give a hand to Greece,” Renzi had said. “But we also want the moment to come for Greece to be out of the crisis, and when that moment comes, Alexis will use an Italian tie”
Indeed, the talks in Riga this time on top European political level, were about the exiting crisis prospect of Greece, as was officaly stated, and Jean Claude Juncker probably took the chance in front of the cameras to show it to the world. Greece is definitely in a rush to reach an agreement, since national liquidity problem has “freeze- framed” the daily life all around the country, with cash being missing almost nowhere.
And here comes “the most harsh phrase this gov has heard till now”, as many politicians commented today, the President of IMF Chrisitne Laggarde’s phrase from overseas on Greece’s agreement to come. Warning Greece and the eurolenders’ side, Christine Laggarde asked for a carefull, in detail work on the terms of the agreement, using though, -may be accidentally- a negative expression to say it , which Greeks, understood as a negative comment on the proceedure of the negotiations, and also understood it word-by- word and not as an expression
“It has to be a comprehensive approach, not a quick and dirty job,” Ms Lagarde told an audience in Rio.
“I know there is a lot of work to be done. Parties are now working, receiving proposals, working in cooperation and we will continue to do so as fast as we can.”
“Quick and dirty”? Enough is enough, immediately everybody said .The statement was playing on tv over and over again, by the comments of Greek media insisting that Christine Laggarde had a negative view on the negotiations’ matters, even though the Prime Minister said clearly Saturday morning that agreement will be made within the next days. By the exhaustion of a whole country for five+ years, and the torture of no cash nationwide for a four+months, suspicions arose once again. The public feeling turned again against a proposed by the lenders’ side agreement, if this would be, once again, going to be unfair .
“The Greek people support our government on this hard try for an agreement for the country, because they know, all of them , that for the first time on the negotiations’ table there is not only one side. There are two sides, and one of them is doing its best to bring Greeks their life back,” Alexis Tsipras said on his speech to the Central Comittee of SYRIZA party today .
The Greek prime minister set the issue of the country’s perspective for exiting the crisis if a long term deal is reached, on the trilateral meeting with President Hollande and Chancellor Merkel in Riga, according to top Greek governmental sources, the ANA-MPA Friday wrote .The Athens News Agency also said that on the meeting the the terms of the agreement were discussed, as was also and the next day after the agreement , which let Alexis Tsipras express his optimism to the journalists in Riga.
On their part, Merkel and Hollande noted that they understand the need for such a deal, and expressed their willingness to help, even on personal level, as to reach soon to the agreement. But the same moment Angela underlined that “A conclusion needs to be found with the three institutions and there needs to be very, very intensive work”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande leaders
“I am optimistic that we can soon reach a stable, long-term and viable solution, without the mistakes of the past – and Greece will return to growth with cohesion.
The government is seeking for a comprehensive deal within the next ten days, government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis also said from Riga on Friday talking on Greek tv. Sakellaridis noted that the agreement will cover all issues, including labour and social security ones.
Asked whether Greece will retreat to the IMF’ harsh demands, he said that Athens has set its red lines and does not intend to take a step back on all those issues “in this manner.”
He confirmed that Greece’s creditors are asking for two VAT rates – 11 percent and 23 percent – adding that they have proposed the imposition of a 23 percent VAT on the energy sector. Greece has proposed three VAT rates – 7 percent, 14 percent and 22 percent.
Asked on debt issue and whether it will be included in the agreement, Sakellaridis told live on air that the Greek government has raised the issue from the very beginning. “It is an objective problem … and by no means can we say that it does not exist,” PM spokesman said, and added that whether it will be included in the agreement “will depend on how mature conditions are.”
One is for sure: Mature for the tie , Alexis will only then be…
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European plan for military operation on Southern Mediterranean against human trafficking might involve ground sources, innocent lives might be threatened too
European plans for a military campaign to smash the migrant trafficking networks operating out of Libya include options for ground forces on Libyan territory.
The document , a 19-page strategy paper for the mission , obtained by the Guardian, speaks of possible operations to destroy traffickers’ assets “ashore”. This could include “action along the coast, in harbour or at anchor of smugglers assets and vessels before their use”.
The campaign’s aim is defined as “to disrupt the business model of the smugglers, achieved by undertaking systematic efforts to identify, seize/capture, and destroy vessels and assets before they are used by smugglers … The operation will need to be phased in and will be heavily dependent on intelligence.
“The mission is therefore defined to be ‘to provide surveillance, intelligence gathering and sharing, and assessment of smuggling activity towards and through the southern central Mediterranean area, and to stop, board, search and dispose of, possibly through their destruction, trafficking vessels and assets before use and thereby contribute to EU efforts to disrupt the business model of trafficking networks.”
The document speaks of possible operations to destroy traffickers’ assets “ashore”.
“A presence ashore might be envisaged if agreement was reached with relevant authorities,” says the paper which has to be endorsed by European Union foreign ministers before the mission is ordered by heads of government at an EU summit in June.
Subject to a UN go-ahead, the military operations would need to focus on actions“inside Libya’s internal and territorial waters and the coast”, the document says, while adding
that seizing and destroying vessels on the high seas or in international waters in the Mediterranean would also be mandated.
The planning document admits that the campaign could result in innocent people being killed: “Boarding operations against smugglers in the presence of migrants has a high risk of collateral damage including the loss of life.”
“The operation would require a broad range of air, maritime and land capabilities. These could include:
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; boarding teams; patrol units (air and maritime); amphibious assets; destruction air, land and sea, including special forces units.”
Senior diplomats and officials in Brussels, speaking privately about the military planning, have consistently stressed that there would be no prospect of “boots on the ground” in Libya. But it is clear from the detailed planning document that they might be needed and are not being ruled out.
Libyan militias, jihadi groups, and Islamic State affiliates believed to be in cahoots with the trafficking networks are said to have heavy artillery and anti-aircraft batteries deployed close to the coast. The Guardian adds that attacks on EU vessels and aircraft could trigger an escalation and force Nato to get involved, said policymakers in Brussels.
Following a visit to Beijing last week, Mogherini believes the Chinese will not block the mission at the security council, the guardian reported. Her staff are also confident that Russia can be persuaded against wielding its security council veto despite the intense animosity between Moscow and the west over the Ukraine conflict.
Greece, Turkey agree on measures to increase Aegean maritime safety
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and Turkey’s Mevlut Cavusoglu also vowed during a joint news conference to continue to work to improve the often-frosty relations and said the countries had agreed to increase security and prevent accidents in the Aegean Sea.
“All of the journalists – Greeks and international – are aware of the concerns I have expressed for some months now regarding the destabilization of the Eastern Mediterranean, which is within a triangle, as I always say, formed by Ukraine, Libya, the Middle East. Greece and Turkey are two factors for stability within this region, and we exchanged initial thoughts on how we might institutionalize this potential we have.
We agreed to reopen the exploratory talks, which concern the continental shelf in the Aegean, and to continue the discussion on confidence-building measures, on which I would say we have already had some success. And I thank the Greek side, Greek diplomacy, which worked hard on this, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry. We have already agreed on and announced confidence-building measures for maritime safety, which include 9 technical aspects that we won’t go into in a press conference.
Greece makes progress with creditors as cash crunch looms – 12 News
Greece makes progress with creditors as cash crunch looms – 12 News.
On the edge. Obviously, this is the Lenders’ side response to the Hope that Democracy let the Greeks voteon 25 January by choosing Alexis. And they successed to practicaly Haircut that hope in the terms of Greek reality, since they orchastrated to shave all the country’s cash, and keep to stick to the Euro- Agreement’s details, that are practically the main government’s Red lines. In the of the day they have fed with uncertainty the public mind and soul adequately enough to shave off all of the Hope.
Negotiations’ progress, government’s chance to rule that country, public feeling’s breath to breath, All have been KEPT ON THE EDGE, DAY TO DAY during the 100+ of Alexis Tsipras. Have a look on the latest updates .
How the migrants’ trafficking bomb in Greece was covered and fed for a decade by previous governements. Frontex Analysis pointing now to ISIS entrance threat
Special trainned crews of the Greek Police Counter-Terrorism and the Greek National Intelligence Service, specialized on international-Islamist terrorism, are sent to the illegal immigrants’ entry points of Greece, the Aegean islands of Mytilini, Chios,and others, and to the Northern border station of Evros
National Intelligence Service and the Greek Police have been set on the Alert on the country’s Entry Points for the possibility fighters of the Islamic State (ISIS) to entry Europe through Greece among the hundreds and thousands immigrants that arrive daily on the islands of Eastern Aegean.
A Syrian national, arrested among migrants rescued on the island of Chios by the Coast guard, had saved on his mobile phone photos with arms and ammunition from battlefields in Syria. When interrogated he declared himself as “dissident” who fights against the Assad government.There have not been found any signs of interconnection with Islamist terrorist networks, while his identity is not found in the ‘list of suspects “of Schengen list (Schengen Information System).
Also, the arrest of a 18 year old Albanian is reported on the Greek-Albanian border for illegal entry The Albanian, who allegedly confessed that his intention was to travel to Syria, and was deported.
Officers of the Police and Greek National intelligence predict that the phenomenon will intensify during the summer months and point out that police staff has already reinforced the border posts of the country.
“Bio-Check Borders control”: Syrian refugees need Polio screening and vaccine to enter Northern European Countries
The Greek Center of Disease Control(HCDCP) special trained teams, –the most expertise -trainned on ‘Human trafficking masses’ Health safety crews throughout Europe since the start of the phenomenon on 2005-, are standing on the Aegean islands and the borders’ frontline, supporting the First line screening proceedures and taking precautionary measures for the Global Village safety, including if needed blood samples control.
” While the islands reporting the largest number of arrivals remained Lesbos, Chios and Samos, detections were also reported from small islands from North to South, stretching capacity of surveillance.
Many migrants claimed to be Syrian, and were thus handed an administrative notice allowing them to stay in Greece for up to six months, even without applying for asylum.
Screening processes of some migrants revealed a high degree of falsely claimed nationalities to avoid return. Not knowing the nationality of migrants who are illegally crossing the border and travelling within the EU is evidently a vulnerability for EU internal security. [***] ”
Isis plans to use immigrant boats from Libya to cause terror in Europe and close shipping routes…
…wrote in mid April 2015 the Independent, based on an online essay written by a prominent Isis supporter who, claiming to be in Libya, called the country the “strategic gateway for the Islamic State” and announced the “blessed expansion” of its so-called caliphate into North Africa. The essay, translated by counter-extremism think-tank the Quilliam Foundation, said: “(Libya) has a long coastline and looks upon the southern Crusader states, which can be reached with ease by even a rudimentary boat and note that the number of ‘illegal immigration’ trips from this coast is massive, estimated to be as high as 500 people a day, as a low estimate.
“According to many [of these immigrants], it is easily possible to pass through Maritime Security Checkpoints and arrive in cities.
Add to that the fact that it has a long coast line and looks upon the southern Crusader states, which can be reached with ease by even a rudimentary boat and note that the number of ‘illegal immigration” trips from this coast is massive, estimated to be as high as 500 people a day, as a low estimate. According to many [of these immigrants],it is easily possible to pass through Maritime Security Checkpoints and arrive in cities. If this was even partially exploited and developed strategically, pandemonium could be wrought in the Southern Europe. It is even possible that there could be a closure of shipping lines because of the targeting of Crusader ships and tankers.
“Migration is not an issue for inexpensive populism,” Alexis Tsipras recently said, emphasizing on the recent summit talks in Europe, and slammed the former New Democracy-led coalition government for not using a single euro of the EU funds that had been available for the reception and migrant hosting centers needed.
“We are looking for a way to decongest our islands ahead of the tourist season ” Prime Minister said. Alexis Tsipras also, -avoiding, though, to cause further panic on the chaotic Greek society has openly said “Our bigggest threat is Jihad “(not the Greek prisoners terrorists, he meant, when asked on Greece’s terrorism threat)
In the meanwhile supporters of Islamic State (ISIS) are allegedly in Rome, according to a series of threatening tweets and photos collected by the intelligence monitoring organisation, SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist networks.
The tweets show several photos of iconic monuments in Rome, such as the Colosseum, with threatening signs held up in front of the camera, the Italian website The Local reported.
the Greece’s Armageddon bomb
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Shame on the last decade’s interaction of Greek authorites and officials with the international and Turkish Rings
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Shame on the Greeks who cooperated
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Shame on the governments who covered it
Greek and Turkish networks’ interaction since long, reports now National Intelligence
The trafficking routes to the islands of Aegean and the smugglers’ methods, contacts and interfaces revealed a recent official Report of the Greek Police that is conducted by the cooperation of the Greek National Intelligence Service. According to the report, persons and contacts from Greece provide assistance to the Turkish smugglers and on time information as to successfully “synchronize” their movements to avoiding or verde(the Greek Police and National Intelligence Trafficking Report, April 28,2015)
the Coast Guard patrols.
- The report notes that “networks operating in Turkey have persons in Greece who provide them information on the time schedule and the movements of the patrol vessels of the Coast Guard. These persons either observe the hours and the routes of the patrols from high points on the Greek islands, or pretending they are fishing, follow the patrols in the sea , from a safe distance but potent to inform the smugglers network while sailing in their fishing boats.
The Turkish immigrant trafficking networks use a wide variety of boats, but most often high-speed inflatable boats with powerful engines that ususally carry 30-40 illegal migrants, adds the document.
- There has been found established cooperation of the Turkish trafficking network with Greek corresponding network that disposes high speed boats with outstanding features (vacuum ship speed 70 km/hr), the report undelines.
- A number of police officers serving in the migration services have been transferred to other departments, in response to an internal Police investigation according to which Greek Police officers are involved in human trafficking rings.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Order and police command are awaiting the findings of the internal affairs investigation into allegations of bribery amongst high-ranking police officers in relation to assisting human trafficking rings. It appears that the investigation, which began in early 2014, was expedited after the publication of To Vima’s report.By the investigation, it comes off that two to three Turkish nationals who are in charge of human trafficking rings were in contact officers in the Police and National Intelligence Agency (EYP). EYP had ordered an investigation into the matter in 2013, which revealed that the traffickers were being supplied with forged travel documents and certificates. Some police officers have claimed that they have established contact with Turkish traffickers as “informants”, in order to draw information and that they were unaware of the investigation being carried out.
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