The minister spoke of the peak of provocation on the part of Turkey in the Evros
The Minister of Citizen Protection gave an interview to the newspaper Real Takis Theodorikakoswho, among other things, referred to the case of monitoring the confrontations with the opposition parties and immigration.
- Regarding the Government’s actions in wiretapping case:
-New Democracy won the 2019 elections having co-signed with all Greeks a truth agreement.
-The stable and essential relationship of trust is not exhausted only in the positive announcements and the work. It also extends to taking the corresponding initiatives to correct mistakes. Looking citizens in the eye again. Because that’s where political consistency is distinguished from opportunism. In difficult times.
- Regarding the aggravation of political confrontation from the Opposition:
– Mr Tsipras has chosen to handle the case of surveillance micro-politically and not institutionally. As much as he seeks it. however, he must realize one thing: He is not going to be “watched” by the people again.
- Regarding Turkey’s immigration moves, he emphasizes that, lately, the provocation of the neighbors on the Evros has peaked. At the same time, he clarifies that the Government and he do not intend to remain with “crossed hands” and adds that the “AKRITAS” plan is in full development and implementation, a well-developed plan to shield our borders, as a “barrier to any asymmetric threat”.
“I want to be clear, once again: No one is going to cross the Evros illegally,” he emphasizes.
- With reference to the launch of the University Institutions Protection Teams, he clarifies that the issue of security in higher education schools is a matter of joint cooperation by all: Rector’s authorities, professors, students, Police.
Since last Friday, the O.P.I.P.I. have been placed practically at the disposal of the Chancellors, executing the security plans of the Universities.
“The OPPI was created to serve the ‘asylum of ideas’, putting an end to the ‘asylum’ of quacks”, he underlines.
- On whether the intervention of the former Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis, was a tipping point for the Government’s manipulations:
The content of the words of Kostas Karamanlis is perfectly harmonized with the initiatives already taken by Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The New Democracy is the faction of freedom, democracy, the guarantee of individual rights. No mistake is capable of altering its historical record of consistency and commitment to these issues. A strong and united New Republic today – in an uncertain environment internationally – means a guarantee of stability for the Motherland itself.
The following is the full text of the interview of the Minister of Citizen Protection
Based on the surveillance case of Nikos Androulakis, how do you judge the actions of the Government so far? How do you think they will affect her negatively?
New Democracy won the 2019 elections having co-signed with all Greeks a truth agreement. And, you well know that a solid and substantial relationship of trust is constantly proven. In all its manifestations.
It is not just about the positive announcements and the work for economic growth, support for professionals, tax reductions, social support measures and national successes. It also extends to taking the corresponding initiatives to correct mistakes. As it happened now, in the case you mention: With decisions about persons, with legislative initiatives to further shield the EYP, with the adoption of every request of the opposition for debate in the Parliament, with full transparency to investigate the case until the end, with the political sidelining cost. Looking citizens in the eye again. This is where political consistency is distinguished from opportunism. In difficult times.
That is why even today the framework of honesty and responsibility which it adopted and in which it continues to operate, is what keeps the relationship of trust between the Government and the people durable and solid.
We are experiencing an escalation of political confrontation. Do you think that the Government – in the midst of such polarization – can function in the run-up to the elections?
At a critical juncture for the whole world, the official Opposition has chosen stability to contrast polarization. In the attempt at institutional dialogue, he consciously responds with a sharp denunciation. And to every attempt at national reconciliation, he opposes the “unyielding” struggle.
It is clear that through aggravation and denial they find the suitable field they are looking for and seek in this way to regain their electoral power. For citizens, however, concepts such as stability, consistency and efficiency are much more essential and important than political tactics. In this context, our only adversary is the national challenges and our only criterion is the further improvement of citizens’ everyday life.
It is now obvious that Mr. Tsipras has chosen to handle the case of surveillance micro-politically and not institutionally. As much as he seeks it. however, he must realize one thing: He is not going to be “watched” by the people again.
You recently argued that the Turks are retooling immigration while Erdogan attacks Greece at every opportunity. In fact, you spoke of 35,000 immigrants who tried to enter our country within a month. What are you waiting for in September? Is the pressure building?
We are experiencing peak days of Turkish provocation. All the data of the last weeks show a rapid increase in the illegal immigration flows that try – but without success – to enter the country. In other words, how we have yet again an attempt to exploit unhappy people, illegal immigrants, from the neighboring country, similar to that of 2020. And all this effort is being done in a constantly escalating way, as evidenced by the Greek police data, the audio-visual material, the testimonies of the immigrants themselves. Which is contrary not only to international law, but also to every concept of basic cooperation between authorities. In flagrant violation of Turkey’s commitments to the European Union itself and the Joint Declaration between them.
We are not standing idly by in this challenge. The “AKRITAS” project is in full development and implementation, a well-developed plan for shielding our borders, structured in 4 axes:
• extension of the fence in Evros up to 140km, as a “barrier” to any asymmetric threat,
• empowerment, training, hands-on support of our staff and 250 new recruitments of border guards,
• upgrade and expansion of the electronic surveillance equipment, with the most modern means,
• information and cooperation with strategic partners, such as the European Union and the USA, with a strong projection of the truth internationally, through undertaking corresponding initiatives,
I want to be clear, once again: No one is going to cross the Evros illegally. The latter is not only a message to protect our borders. But also a message of respect for human life itself. Which are dictated by the values of our culture, international law, but also our own humanity. It is a warning message to every unscrupulous modern slave trader, who does not hesitate to use unfortunate people, sending them on dangerous journeys, on land and sea. But also a message of national determination against every force that today, using immigration as a tool, attempts to promote hidden and alien pursuits.
With the start of the year at the universities, will the university police finally start operating?
The operation of the Protection Teams of University Institutions and the implementation of their complex mission have already begun. There is continuous cooperation with the rectory authorities, as required by the law, the Presidential Decree, but also by the same logic. Since last Friday, the O.P.I.P.I. have been practically placed at the disposal of the Chancellors for the safeguarding of the public property of the Universities, but also for the protection of employees and students. The issue of security in higher education schools is a matter of joint cooperation of all: Rector’s authorities, professors, students, Police. For this reason, these Groups will also aim at prevention and deterrence, in the context of the security plans that the Universities have and the rector’s authorities must jointly implement with them.
OPPI was created to serve the “asylum of ideas”, putting an end to the “asylum of quacks”. To offer our children Schools equivalent to those abroad. With freedom to trade knowledge and ideas – not stones and crowbars. In order for the State to be able to guarantee the safety of all those who work or study at the Greek University. But, above all, to send out, after decades of audacity, a clear message that there are no “untouchables” and gray areas in the face of the law.
Your opponents claim that the intervention of the former Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis, was a tipping point for the Government’s manipulations, while it also opened a debate within the ND. What do you answer?
If you noticed, the content of the words of Kostas Karamanlis, is perfectly harmonized with the initiatives already taken by Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The ideological project of our great, popular, patriotic party is common and timeless: New Democracy is the party of freedom, democracy, and the guarantee of individual rights. That is why no mistake is capable of altering the historical imprint of its consistency and commitment to these issues.
Let the official Opposition not harbor delusions, therefore, as it harbored when it was Government. New Democracy is as strong and united as ever. He looks ahead, with optimism and determination. Because a strong and united New Democracy today – in an uncertain environment internationally – means a guarantee of stability for the Motherland itself.
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