“It is unacceptable for Greece to treat refugees on their own…We must create a convention on asylum and immigration, as promised by the Commission, and tackle the problem with fair burden-sharing,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in an interview with German newspaper, Bild.
“We must send a clear message to the circuits: You should know that when you come to Greece…you have no right to international protection, we will send you back,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Referring to those who try to enter the country illegally, he points out: “If one wants to enter the territorial waters, they must first tell him that he enters the territorial waters illegally. This does not mean that the vessel must be in danger, but the coastguard is not a host or travel agency. It is intended to guard the border and, of course, save anyone at risk at sea. The sea has borders. It’s just a lot harder to keep track of. But border management is the exclusive prerogative of the state.”
Asked if he is afraid of a “hot incident” with Turkey, he replies, “No. Of course there is always the chance, but what if I’m afraid? No, I’m not afraid. I don’t think things will get out of control. You referred to the word ‘crisis’. I think we have an aggravated situation. This MOU signed with Libya is illegal and invalid. Everyone agrees on this, the European Union, America, Russia, Egypt and Israel. Everyone seems to agree that what Turkey has done is provocative and illegal. Therefore, I believe that Turkey will become increasingly isolated on this issue. We have made it clear that we want to talk, but we will not accept any violation of our sovereign rights. Because, we respect international law. It is Turkey that does not respect the law of the sea, not us,” said the Prime Minister.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis says Greece’s debts will be repaid and the country’s development is at a pivotal point.
“For the first time, Greece borrowed in the short term at a negative rate. Who would have thought that this would have been possible a few months ago? At some point our 10-year bond was trading at a lower yield than the Italian bond,” he said while calling on the Germans to invest in Greece.
“It is an invitation to the world to buy real estate, as the Greek real estate market is very attractive. It is not just an invitation for tourists. It’s an invitation to spend their winter here. There are many, many opportunities for retirees,” he said.
