Greek authorities familiarize EU ambassadors with protection of land border with Turkey
Greek authorities familiarized ambassadors from 27 European Union, Schengen Agreement and British countries with the protection of the land border with Turkey, measures against illegal migration and showed the fence on the border, the trip was organized by the Greek Ministry of Citizens’ Protection. The ambassadors also visited the port of Alexandroupolis, through which military equipment enters Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
Minister of Citizens’ Protection Takis Theodorikakos told the ambassadors that in order to limit illegal immigration, the Greek government has decided to strengthen protection measures at the borders and under the Akritas project is starting the construction of another 35 kilometers of fence on the land border with Turkey at Evros in the first phase. The project has a budget of 100 million euros and is fully covered by the Greek state budget.
A 37.5 kilometer long fence has already been built at the border and was shown to the ambassadors.
“The security of European states and their citizens is essential to combat illegal immigration and, therefore, to secure the external borders here in Evros. For this reason, the project needs the support not only of the Greek state, but also of European public opinion, as well as of the European Union itself and the European states individually. Today’s meeting here sends a message of unity and solidarity and expresses our common will for the effective protection of European borders with Turkey, for the application of international law, as well as our determination for stability and cooperation in the region,” Theodorikakos said.
According to the minister, in 2022 in Greece prevented the illegal entry of 260 thousand illegal immigrants into Europe, detained about 1500 traffickers.
Russia earlier sent a note to NATO countries because of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that any shipments that contained weapons for Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that NATO countries were “playing with fire” by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitriy Peskov noted that pumping Ukraine with weapons from the West did not contribute to the success of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and would have a negative effect.
“Only in the first 14 days of this year, 2023, the Greek police arrested 26 traffickers in the Evros region, during this period every day, even in the middle of winter, 300-400 people try to cross the border,” the minister said.
According to him, 1,800 border guards are currently serving in the region, and the border service will be strengthened by another 400 in 2023, with 250 starting work in February.
Theodorikakos told ambassadors that reports of the death of a five-year-old girl in 2022 on the island between Greece and Turkey have turned out to be false, and some are “exploiting human suffering” for political purposes.
