Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-16 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Five island mayors request meeting with Tsipras on refugee crisis [02] Athens court gives green light to Marinopoulos' merger plan --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Five island mayors request meeting with Tsipras on refugee crisis The mayors of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros, the islands which have been mostly affected by the refugee crisis, requested on Monday a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for January 23, sources said. In a letter sent to the premier, the five mayors say the meeting is needed "to reach a viable solution for the islands which are bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis." They also say they want to brief him on their "common positions regarding the refugee crisis, always within the context of their willingness to cooperate for the good of the islands." According to the same sources, the five mayors are scheduling a joint press conference after their intended meeting at the offices of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece. [02] Athens court gives green light to Marinopoulos' merger plan An Athens Court of First Instance has issued a decision approving a merger plan for Marinopoulos SA. The decision gives a green light to the takeover of Marinopoulos by Sklavenitis Group. February 14 is the final date for completing the merger deal, according to a memorandum of understanding signed between creditor banks and the two business groups. The money from an interim funding agreement has been used to pay the Christmas bonus to the 10,800 workers of Marinopoulos, while Sklavenitis Group has taken the initiative to pay 30 pct of the December wages to workers.