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The Latest: Greece says stranded migrants return to Athens The Latest: Greece says stranded migrants return to Athens
(35 minutes later)
VIENNA — The Latest on the influx of migrants into Europe all times local):VIENNA — The Latest on the influx of migrants into Europe all times local):
11:10 a.m.
Greece’s migration minister says he expects the number of stranded immigrants in Greece to reach “tens of thousands” after Balkan countries introduced stricter transit rules.
“There are about 12,000 (stranded) people right now. Tomorrow it could be 14,000 and then 16,000 the following day,” Mouzalas told private Antenna television. “Eventually there will be tens of thousands, but that is a number that is manageable.”
Mouzalas said the government was looking at additional sites to set up temporary transit camps by the end of the week.
“It’s not something we can do in one or two days, but we are trying to keep people in humane conditions,” he said.
Greece, he said, was applying diplomatic pressure on European Union and NATO allies to limit unilateral actions by EU member states to restrict entry to asylum seekers and to make recently deployed patrols by the military alliance in the Aegean Sea more effective.
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11:05 a.m.
Greece has opened a second army-built transit camp in the north of the country to cope with a border bottleneck of migrants and refugees.
About 1,000 asylum-seekers from Syria and Iraq were taken by bus from the border to the camp outside the northern city of Thessaloniki, police said. Afghan migrants, who have been blocked by authorities in neighboring Macedonia, are being taken to Athens, in the south of the country.
Migrants continued to camp outside and sleep rough at the Macedonian border overnight as organized facilities there remained filled to capacity.
“At times there are double the number of people than places available at the camp, so the conditions can become very difficult,” Xanthippe Soupli, municipal director at the border town of Idomeni, told state-run ERT television.
— By Costas Kantouris in Idoimeni, Greece
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10:40 a.m.10:40 a.m.
Migrants stranded in Greece have begun reappearing in squares in central Athens after Balkan countries imposed tougher transit restrictions at the weekend in response to similar action taken by Austria.Migrants stranded in Greece have begun reappearing in squares in central Athens after Balkan countries imposed tougher transit restrictions at the weekend in response to similar action taken by Austria.
The interior ministry said about 12,000 people have been stranded in Greece since neighbor Macedonia began turning Afghan immigrants away at the border and slowing the number of crossings for others heading to central and northern Europe. The government is planning to set up several temporary shelters to try and deal with the crisis.The interior ministry said about 12,000 people have been stranded in Greece since neighbor Macedonia began turning Afghan immigrants away at the border and slowing the number of crossings for others heading to central and northern Europe. The government is planning to set up several temporary shelters to try and deal with the crisis.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, is in Athens to meet government officials Wednesday, including Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, is in Athens to meet government officials Wednesday, including Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
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10:35 a.m.10:35 a.m.
The German government says 125 Afghans who had their asylum applications rejected have voluntarily returned to their homeland.The German government says 125 Afghans who had their asylum applications rejected have voluntarily returned to their homeland.
The Interior Ministry said a plane carrying the migrants landed in Kabul Wednesday. The return was organized by the International Organization for Migration.The Interior Ministry said a plane carrying the migrants landed in Kabul Wednesday. The return was organized by the International Organization for Migration.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a statement the migrants’ return was important for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The government hopes the return will dissuade more Afghans from traveling to Germany but hasn’t said when it might start deporting people to Afghanistan.Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a statement the migrants’ return was important for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The government hopes the return will dissuade more Afghans from traveling to Germany but hasn’t said when it might start deporting people to Afghanistan.
Afghans were the second-biggest group among the more than one million asylum seekers who came to Germany in 2015, with more than 150,000 arriving. Some 309 Afghans returned last year to their homeland after their asylum pleas had been rejected.Afghans were the second-biggest group among the more than one million asylum seekers who came to Germany in 2015, with more than 150,000 arriving. Some 309 Afghans returned last year to their homeland after their asylum pleas had been rejected.
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10:30 a.m.10:30 a.m.
The head of the European Parliament says it’s “absolutely normal” for Belgium to reinforce its border with France to avoid a flood of people crossing over if a migrant camp near Calais gets evacuated.The head of the European Parliament says it’s “absolutely normal” for Belgium to reinforce its border with France to avoid a flood of people crossing over if a migrant camp near Calais gets evacuated.
Martin Schulz says in an interview with French radio Europe 1 that the move, announced Tuesday by Belgian interior minister Jan Jambon, was carried out according to the rules of the Schengen borderless zone, which he said permits states to temporarily restore border controls.Martin Schulz says in an interview with French radio Europe 1 that the move, announced Tuesday by Belgian interior minister Jan Jambon, was carried out according to the rules of the Schengen borderless zone, which he said permits states to temporarily restore border controls.
Jambon said up to 290 police a day will be used to make sure no camps are set up on the Belgian side of the border.Jambon said up to 290 police a day will be used to make sure no camps are set up on the Belgian side of the border.
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10:15 a.m.10:15 a.m.
Amnesty International says the European Union is too focused on keeping migrants out and failing to take humanitarian measures that could have prevented thousands dying at sea.Amnesty International says the European Union is too focused on keeping migrants out and failing to take humanitarian measures that could have prevented thousands dying at sea.
More than 110,000 people fleeing conflict or poverty have entered the EU so far this year, and over 400 have died.More than 110,000 people fleeing conflict or poverty have entered the EU so far this year, and over 400 have died.
Amnesty said in its 2015-2016 annual report released Wednesday that “the EU’s failing refugee strategy remains focused on keeping people out, rather than providing the safe passage to Europe that could save thousands of lives.”Amnesty said in its 2015-2016 annual report released Wednesday that “the EU’s failing refugee strategy remains focused on keeping people out, rather than providing the safe passage to Europe that could save thousands of lives.”
The human rights group said EU countries “for the most part vacillated or actively obstructed potential solutions” to sharing refugees. It says little effort was made to find more legal ways for migrants to avoid dangerous sea journeys and enter Europe safely.The human rights group said EU countries “for the most part vacillated or actively obstructed potential solutions” to sharing refugees. It says little effort was made to find more legal ways for migrants to avoid dangerous sea journeys and enter Europe safely.
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10 a.m.10 a.m.
Austria’s foreign minister is defending his country’s decision not to invite Greece to a conference of West Balkan nations focused on managing the migrant crisis.Austria’s foreign minister is defending his country’s decision not to invite Greece to a conference of West Balkan nations focused on managing the migrant crisis.
Sebastian Kurz says that Greece has “clearly expressed no interest in reducing the (migrant) influx and in contrast wants to continue waving them through” to Macedonia, from where they make their way northward. Austria has imposed limits on the number of refugees allowed to enter.Sebastian Kurz says that Greece has “clearly expressed no interest in reducing the (migrant) influx and in contrast wants to continue waving them through” to Macedonia, from where they make their way northward. Austria has imposed limits on the number of refugees allowed to enter.
The statement by Kurz comes ahead of a meeting Wednesday of Austrian and West Balkan government ministers in Vienna aiming at finding common solutions to crimping the refugee flow.The statement by Kurz comes ahead of a meeting Wednesday of Austrian and West Balkan government ministers in Vienna aiming at finding common solutions to crimping the refugee flow.
Greece is not invited. Austria’s Interior Ministry says the conference is set up in a “regular format” that does not include Athens.Greece is not invited. Austria’s Interior Ministry says the conference is set up in a “regular format” that does not include Athens.
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.