Theodorikakos from Evros: Guarding the border with Turkey needs the support of the European Union

The Minister of Citizen Protection sent a message of unity and solidarity for the resolute guarding of the European border with Turkey in Evros Takis Theodorikakos from Alexandroupoli, where he met with 27 ambassadors of European Union member countries, linked to the Schengen Treaty, Britain and Switzerland.

At the same time, he emphasized how the task of guarding the borders needs the support, not only of the Greek state, but also of the European Union, while he expressed the common will to apply international law and the determination for stability and cooperation in the region.

“The security of the European states and their citizens is a prerequisite for dealing with illegal immigration and – consequently – guarding the external borders here in Evros. For this reason, the work of guarding by EL.AS. and the Security Authorities as a whole, it needs the support, not only of the Greek State, which they have to the absolute extent, but also of European public opinion and of the European Union itself and of the European states separately” said Mr. Theodorikakos and continued:

“Today’s meeting here sends a message of unity and solidarity and expresses our common will for effective guarding of the European border with Turkey, for the application of international law, and our determination for peace, stability and cooperation in the wider region of SE Mediterranean”.

Then Mr. Theodorikakos together with the ambassadors they will visit the fence on the border with Turkeyin the region of Fera, where there will be a briefing by the General Regional Police Director of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Major General Paschalis Syritoudis.

Themselves together

The Minister of Citizen Protection described to the ambassadors the situation at the Greek-Turkish border in Evros and pointed out that during 2022 the entry of 260,000 illegal immigrants was prevented while around 1,500 traffickers were arrested.

He said that every day around 300-400 illegal immigrants are prevented by the Greek border guarding authorities from crossing the border, pointing out that the threat is active. He referred to the positive role of Frontex and announced that in 2023 our border guard will be strengthened with another 400 people. The 250 take up service in February.

Today, 1,800 border guards are serving in the region and they are the modern-day border guards of Europe. “Without the presence of these modern European border guards, who operate as a deterrent and effectively, the millions of immigrants waiting to enter Europe would have moved to the border,” he noted.

He spoke of the development of an organized support network of dubious moral composition and slave-trafficking circles, working with a clearly political agenda, as they are directed directly against European institutions and underlined: “Their aim seems to be to overturn the balance and social cohesion. Their aim is the undermining of institutions and values”.

In order to limit illegal immigration, Mr. Theodorikakos informed the European diplomats, that the government took the decision to upgrade the protection measures at the borders, through the implementation of the “Akritas” project implemented by the Ministry of Citizen Protection. In this context, Greece is proceeding, in the first phase, with the construction of another 35 kilometers of the Evros Barrier, which currently extends to 37.5 kilometers.

The project has a budget of 100 million euros and is fully covered by the state budget of Greece. Greece, as he noted, which bears a large burden of illegal migration flows, gives particular importance to the aspect of security and protection of the European external borders.

“It is our firm position that first host Member States cannot be the only European destinations” he said and added:

“There should be solidarity between member states and a fair sharing of responsibilities. Close cooperation and information sharing between our countries is essential in order to effectively manage this major problem. Close coordination is necessary, as we already do with neighboring countries, such as Bulgaria, with whom we have excellent cooperation on the matter. We defend the borders of Europe, we defend the Principles and Values ​​of European Civilization, we work with determination, efficiency, humanity and solidarity, but we cannot hide behind our finger about what is really happening and what are the real aspirations of some and the real stake for all of us” he emphasized.

He pointed out that Greece has denounced the instrumentalization of immigration by Turkey and at the same time has supported other states, such as Lithuania, which have been victims of a similar policy by Belarus.

The head of the Department of Aliens and Border Protection, Lt. Gen. Dimitris Mallios, informed the ambassadors about the operational parameters and actions to deal with illegal immigration flows by the Greek Police.

The meeting held at the Prefecture of Alexandroupolis was attended by the regional governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Christos Metios, the deputy regional governor of Evros Dimitris Petrovits and the mayor of Alexandroupolis Yiannis Zamboukis, as well as the parliamentarians of the ND, T. Dimoshakis and Chr. Dermetzopoulos.

“Our problem, in Evros, has always been security and now this is being consolidated with the effective interventions of the government and the Ministry of Citizen Protection” said the deputy regional governor Dimitris Petrovich.

“Already the first part of the fence that has been placed in the area of ​​Fera has yielded results regarding the reduction of migration flows”, emphasized the head of the Community of Fera and Resources Athanasios Pemousis.

RES-EMP

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