At the event for the signing of the fence extension contract at Evroon the border with Turkey, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks, developing the government’s positions and his plan for the next period.

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Mr. Mitsotakis began his speech, recalling that three years ago in the same area where today’s event is taking place, tens of thousands of immigrants sought to enter Greek territory – mainly in Kastanies, the area had almost turned into a battle zone. What we experienced, said Mr. Mitsotakis, was the first, but not the last, phase of a form of hybrid war that was beginning in Europe. Greece won this battle, it overturned the plans of those who instrumentalized people’s pain. three days after the crisis broke out he invited all the leadership of Europe, and then in action and not in words our borders became the borders of Europe.

I made this introduction to emphasize the continuity and consistency of a single immigration policy, fair and effective that can and wants to protect the borders of our country, while saving innocents in the Aegean. The new section of the Evros artificial barrier will add another 35 km from Psathades to Kornofolia. Border guards will increase by 250.

In the greeting addressed by the Minister of Citizen Protection, Takis Theodorikakoss, noted that today is special. The extension of the fence by 35 kilometers is signed. We are doing what the vast majority of the Greek people demand, he said, what Europe also demands. Our goal, based on the decision of KYSEA, is full coverage along the entire length of the river, with a natural barrier. Subsequently, Mr. Theodorikakos described the technical characteristics of the project, which has a budget of 100 million euros and is fully covered by the regular budget, while he also referred to the obstacles to funding from the EU put up by the official opposition.

In his greeting, the Minister of Immigration Notis Mitarakis he pointed out, among other things, that the government was committed to tackling illegal immigration. We guarded the borders effectively, he said, and we also dealt with asylum seekers within the country, we internationalized the crisis. Today we are proceeding with the extension of the fence in Evros.

The event that takes place in Ferres of Evros started with a video projection and then the police press representative, Konstantina Dimoglidou, gave the floor to border guards. The young border guard originally from Soufli who took the floor spoke with emotion about her job, namely to protect the borders of our country and the borders of Europe. The difficulties are many, but we will continue to protect the motherland until the last day of our service life, he said.

The commander of the border guard department of Orestiada, policeman Giorgos Tournakis, then took the floor. He comes from Kissario Evrou, and he referred to the events of March 2020, when dozens of groups of migrants on Turkish territory were spotted moving towards Greek territory. There was, he said, an immediate threat to the borders of our country. Our main weapon, he said, was the barrier (the fence) that had been built in 2012. “The order was clear: Do not violate the borders of our country,” he said, adding that forces were strengthened while the problem was consolidated. Border guards from more than 20 EU countries were at the Evros border.