“We are not exaggerating the problem, but we are not underestimating it at all,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said demandingly in a meeting with the country’s 13 regional leaders, who called on them to show solidarity with the islands of the refugee migrants.
“The current government is following another policy. We changed the law on asylum, made it stricter. We have a different policy on border guard. We are setting up closed pre-departure centres in order to control who comes in and who goes out,” Mitsotakis told regional officials, referring to the refugee crisis.
The prime minister emphasized that the government is not magnifying, nor underestimating the problem, and urging the regional authorities to show solidarity with the islands. “I cannot fight and demand solidarity from Europe when there is no solidarity between us.”
“Quantitatively, it’s not a big issue. Most of all we have to make sure that Greeks feel safe,” Citizens’ Defence Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis said. The Defence Minister also added that 400 border guards in Evros were hired, 500 new asylum officers in the islands and inland, and 800 to guard the islands’ borders and guard the centres.
During the meeting, the issue of better coordination between the central administration and the Regions was raised, proposals for faster absorption of the NSRF funds were presented, while the need for cooperation and constant contact and information was emphasized for the Migrant Refugee.
Sourced by: Efsyn
