Roundup: Greek PM announces relief measures for low income pensioners, islanders at forefront of refugee crisis

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced on Thursday relief measures for the low income pensioners who have been hit hard by the debt crisis, as well as islanders of the northeastern Aegean Sea who are at the forefront of the ongoing refugee crisis.

In a televised address on public broadcaster ERT, the Greek prime minister said that Greece has achieved a 2016 primary surplus double than the 0.5 percent of GDP initially sought under the bailout framework agreed with international creditors.

Therefore, the government has decided to immediately redistribute approximately 617 million euros (654.8 million U.S. dollars) to the weakest groups of Greek society who have suffered most in the past seven years, starting with the low income pensioners, he said.

"It has been this government's pledge to redistribute every euro of surplus from available sources to our weaker citizens, those who are in greater need bearing mostly the burdens of the crisis. Today, staying true to this pledge to support the weakest, we decide the immediate redistribution of the largest part of the outperformance of 2016 revenues to low-income pensioners," he announced.

Approximately 1.6 million retirees receiving monthly pensions lower than 850 euros will get an extra benefit ahead of the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.

The government also approved relief measures for the residents of the islands of the northeastern Aegean which have received the bulk of the thousands of refugees and migrants reaching Europe on boats from Turkey over the past two years, Tsipras added.

Taking into account the extra burden the islanders have shouldered, the government decided to exclude the region from an increase of the VAT rates as long as the refugee crisis lasts.

Athens will honor its commitments to creditors and respect the agreements made, but retains room for maneuvering and drafting social welfare programs to support the most vulnerable Greeks and social cohesion, the Greek prime minister noted.

"With the sacrifices of the Greek people, Greece has shouldered and is still shouldering the weight of the refugee and economic crisis for the entire Europe. The time has come for Europe to recognizeze this with actions," he said.

Tsipras welcomed Monday's Euro group decision providing short-term debt relief for Greece as another significant step in efforts to pull the country out of the crisis, return to international financing markets and ensure sustainable growth.

He stressed that Athens will not agree to "unreasonable requests" by lenders in exchange of further aid, reassuring that the worst is over and Greece is near the finish line of a tough marathon race.

"We are covering the last difficult meters of a tough marathon race. Believing in our endurance, with justice and solidarity, we will make it. We will exit this crisis and we will emerge standing on our feet stronger," he concluded.

Tsipras'address was given as the country was hit by a new 24-hour general strike organized by Greece's largest trade unions in the public and private sector of the economy in protest of the new round of austerity measures.

The measure were included in the 2017 state budget draft which will be voted in the parliament on Saturday. (1 euro= 1.06 U.S. dollars) Endit