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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Labour Minister: 'The negotiation is very hard'

[02] Lesvos coast guard rescues record 413 migrants and refugees in single operation

[03] Oil producer Energean Oil & Gas to continue increasing production, says CEO

[04] Journalist J. Neurink talks about ISIS and living in Iraq, ahead of TED Athens appearance

[01] Labour Minister: 'The negotiation is very hard'

Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and Economy Minister George Stathakis were also present at the meeting.

Katrougalos noted that "the meeting was held in a climate of constructive discussion" adding that "the issues are the already known issues that are always set by the institutions. I believe that this hard negotiation will continue and that the final outcome will be in the country's interest".

[02] Lesvos coast guard rescues record 413 migrants and refugees in single operation

In statements from Mytilene harbour, which was filled with the women, children and men rescued at sea, the patrol boat's captain Lieut. Argyris Fragoulis said they had come across a "fleet" of nine plastic dinghies in Greek territorial waters, heading toward the island.

"Most were sailing adrift due to engine failure and at risk of capsizing at any minute, since each one carried between 40 and 50 people and all their belongings," he said.

"This was a difficult day but we made it safely and without any problem collected and rescued 413 people," he added.

The very good weather prevailing in the northeast Aegean on Tuesday brought more than 2,000 refugees and migrants to the eastern shores of Lesvos, with the coast guard and Frontex called to rescue 1,000 from boats. The Norwegian Frontex patrol boat alone managed to collect a total of 200 people in three rescue operations on Tuesday.

[03] Oil producer Energean Oil & Gas to continue increasing production, says CEO

"Despite the large drop in oil prices which has even touched 75 pct in a year and a half, Energean Oil & Gas continues to invest in Prinos, having created about 150 jobs and having multiplied the country's known oil reserves of 2 million barrels to 30 million barrels in seven years," Rigas said.

"The very existence of these proven reserves, but also the particularly low breakeven - even below $25 if we achieve the objective of increasing production to 5,000 barrels a day – which characterizes the operation of Prinos is the main incentive for the continuation of investments which are taking place for the past two years and focus on the 15 drillings which Energean Force's drilling rig has started in the Gulf of Kavala," he added.

Rigas also urged the banks to support the businesses which invest in the country's prospects so that they can acquire the know-how in the operation of new sectors, such as the research and utilization of hydrocarbons in Greece.

[04] Journalist J. Neurink talks about ISIS and living in Iraq, ahead of TED Athens appearance

From her vantage point covering events in the Middle East, and for the needs of her book "The Women of the Caliphate", Neurink said she had heard shocking stories from women in ISIS, as well as speaking about the refugee crisis and the role of journalism in democracy.

She said that Islamic State appears to be losing ground in Syria and Iraq, in terms of both territory and support in the lands it had occupied, where the economy was extremely bad and people were becoming impoverished "because Islamic State is busy filling its own pockets and the pockets of its leaders."

She warned, however, that defeating ISIS in Syria and Iraq would not make the problem go away since they were already moving on and becoming strong in Libya.

"The rumour here in Iraq is that the leaders of ISIS have already left. This means that even if you managed to drive ISIS out of Syria and Iraq, that is not the end of them."

Another problem, she said, was the collapse of the education system, with schools converted to "training camps" teaching only the Koran and Sharia laws.

"This means that even if ISIS leaves, the problem with the children will not be solved. It will be like what happened in Germany after WWII with the so-called Hitler Youth," she added.

Talking about her book, Neurink said that had heard "horrible" and "shocking" stories about the abuse suffered by women and young girls.

"There are many ugly things that ISIS has done but they way they treat women are one of the worst," she said.

On the refugee crisis, Neurink noted that the problem was both the war and some mistaken ideas about life in Europe.

"Very many believe that Europe is a paradise.... The situation for those arriving in Europe is that they cannot work and cannot bring the rest of their family...people have the wrong impression about these things," she said.

Neurink is due to speak for TEDAthens at the Pallas Theatre in the city.

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