Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned migrants not qualifying for asylum to not come to Greece. At the same time, he stressed the government’s determination to proceed with the construction of new closed facilities for migrants and asylum seekers on the northeastern Aegean islands.
“The construction of modern, guarded facilities for migrants was in the islands’ best interests,” he underlined and reiterated that “the old problematic camps can close.”
He sent an appealing message to uprising locals on Lesvos and Chios.
“Those opposing the plan to dial down their reactions, these were “fruitless and lead nowhere,” he said, while the clashes between locals and riot police continue without break.
He urged those who come to Greece despite knowing that they were not entitled to asylum, to stay away. He stressed that Greece’s policy on managing migration and refugees has changed. “Don’t come to Greece” was the prime minister’s message to those not entitled to international protection as refugees.
“I want to send a clear message to those not entitled to asylum, who nevertheless choose to come to our country. Don’t come because the route on which the traffickers are leading you, for which you pay them handsomely, does not lead to the Greek mainland and ultimately to Europe. It stops on the islands and from there starts the road of your return,” Mistotakis said.
He added that “the borders in Evros are now much better guarded and the sea borders are also better guarded. The legal framework that is at our disposal has become stricter and more flexible. And following an exhaustive dialogue with the local communities on the islands, the decisions are finally being implemented.”
