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The Latest: Slovakia, Greece in diplomatic row over migrants The Latest: Turkey: Greek islands to be cleared of migrants
(about 2 hours later)
ATHENS, Greece — The Latest on the mass migration into Europe (all times local):ATHENS, Greece — The Latest on the mass migration into Europe (all times local):
6:15 p.m.
A Turkish official says five Greek islands would be “cleared” of migrants before a proposed deal with the European Union on the return of migrants to Turkey comes into effect.
The Foreign Ministry official told reporters Friday that the migrants on those islands would be taken to mainland Greece and resettled elsewhere. Turkey would start taking back any new migrants that arrive on the islands once the deal is in place, the official said. He did not name the islands.
The EU and Turkey this week agreed on the outlines of a deal that would send thousands of irregular migrants back to Turkey. In return, the EU would take an equal number of Syrian refugees who have found shelter in Turkey. The deal could be finalized at an EU summit next week.
The official said the aim of the deal is to discourage the illegal and dangerous migrant crossings from Turkey to the Greek islands and said Turkey was confident that these crossings would drop significantly days after the Turkish proposal comes into effect.
He added the EU would pay for the return of the migrants to Turkey.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.
—By Suzan Fraser
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6:00 p.m.
A senior State Department official says the U.S. is increasing the number of refugees it accepts, including the number of Syrians.
Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland also told a press conference in Athens Friday that the U.S. “will continue to be a welcoming place for refugees.”
Nuland was responding to a question on whether the U.S. was ready to increase the number of asylum-seekers it is willing to accept. She provided no further details.
On Thursday, Nuland visited an overcrowded tent city on Greece’s northern border with Macedonia, where about 14,000 refugees heading for central Europe are living in dire circumstances.
Macedonia has closed the Idomeni border crossing, and Greek authorities are appealing to refugees to move to nearby organized shelters.
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5:30 p.m.
A court in southern Denmark has fined an outspoken children’s rights activist and her partner for driving six Syrian migrants from a Danish ferry terminal to a bridge to Sweden, where they are believed to have sought asylum.
The city court in Nykoebing ruled Friday Lisbeth Zornig Andersen and Mikael Rauno Lindholm were guilty of violating Danish immigration laws forbidding assisting foreigners to cross Denmark illegally.
They were each fined 22,500 kroner ($3,330) for driving four adults and two children to the Oresund bridge in early September.
Andersen, the former chairwoman of the National Council for Children and debater, said “the court needed to set an example, because I am a known person.”
In January, another Danish citizen was fined for driving five migrants to Sweden.
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4:00 p.m.4:00 p.m.
Slovakia’s foreign ministry has accused the Greek ambassador to Bratislava of meddling in the country’s internal affairs over his criticism of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s anti-migrant stance in the election campaign.Slovakia’s foreign ministry has accused the Greek ambassador to Bratislava of meddling in the country’s internal affairs over his criticism of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s anti-migrant stance in the election campaign.
Campaigning on an anti-migrant ticket, Fico’s leftist Smer-Social Democracy party won the ballot Saturday with 28.3 percent of the vote, or 49 seats in the 150-seat Parliament and needs coalition partners to rule.Campaigning on an anti-migrant ticket, Fico’s leftist Smer-Social Democracy party won the ballot Saturday with 28.3 percent of the vote, or 49 seats in the 150-seat Parliament and needs coalition partners to rule.
President Andrej Kiska has asked Fico to try to form a government. If he fails, it would give a chance to a center-right coalition government.President Andrej Kiska has asked Fico to try to form a government. If he fails, it would give a chance to a center-right coalition government.
In an interview with the Dennik N newspaper Tuesday, ambassador Nicolas Plexidas said Fico contributed to the rise of xenophobia in Slovakia and the surprise election success of a neo-Nazi party.In an interview with the Dennik N newspaper Tuesday, ambassador Nicolas Plexidas said Fico contributed to the rise of xenophobia in Slovakia and the surprise election success of a neo-Nazi party.
The ministry says Plexidas’ comments are “unacceptable.”The ministry says Plexidas’ comments are “unacceptable.”
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11:45 a.m.11:45 a.m.
Authorities in Greece say they hope an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border can be emptied within two weeks, as people are slowly persuaded to move to nearby government-built shelters.Authorities in Greece say they hope an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border can be emptied within two weeks, as people are slowly persuaded to move to nearby government-built shelters.
Nikos Toskas, a deputy minister for public order, ruled out using force to move the 14,000 people camped out at the border near the village of Idomeni in increasingly desperate conditions.Nikos Toskas, a deputy minister for public order, ruled out using force to move the 14,000 people camped out at the border near the village of Idomeni in increasingly desperate conditions.
“We have to persuade them (to move) and we can’t do that using tear gas. Half the people there are women and children,” Toskas told private Mega television Friday.“We have to persuade them (to move) and we can’t do that using tear gas. Half the people there are women and children,” Toskas told private Mega television Friday.
Authorities say about 800 people have agreed so far to leave the camp, but more arrive daily.Authorities say about 800 people have agreed so far to leave the camp, but more arrive daily.
Macedonia closed its borders to all migrants and refugees this week after several Balkan countries and Austria began imposing restrictions in February.Macedonia closed its borders to all migrants and refugees this week after several Balkan countries and Austria began imposing restrictions in February.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.