Declaration of the priority given by the Ministry of Citizen Protection and the government to the shielding of Evros is according to the minister, Yannis Economou his presence today (Monday) in Alexandroupoli as a member of the government echelon that visited the Akrit Prefecture.

Strengthening human resources

“We are going through a very difficult summer with many open issues of Public Order and security in both their narrow and broader sense. In this context Evros, the residents have suffered a lot, they are tested with the fires and immigration which are the major problems. We are here to declare once again that our priority is the shielding of this area as the first line of our borders…”. Presenting the design of the further shielding Mr. Economou said that they are in Evros for the announcement and planning of the necessary corrections and adjustments to the existing design as a new image has been formed after the fires but also due to the continuous ingenuity of the criminal networks of traffickers with whom, as he pointed out, “we are and will continue to be at constant war”. He noted that “from the side of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Hellenic Police is planning to activate our presence in all the necessary places. It is planned to strengthen the human resources by increasing the number of detachments of the Greek Police officers who will come to Evros. At the same time, we have launched and secured for four years funds and recruitment of 100 border guards for Rodopi and 50 for the prefecture of Kavala, who will make every possible effort so that the tendering procedures can start as soon as possible”.

He clarified that “reengineering means reevaluating our automated systems, modernizing them. It means strengthening the technological infrastructure and in the medium term not in a very long time horizon from now using financial tools that we have but also more directly with lower cost but high added value supplies… We are here to also face the ingenuity of criminal networks that use new methods, tougher, wilder and more dangerous for society like those you have tragically experienced here in Alexandroupoli on Egnatia Odos”. He spoke of clear instructions and an operational plan for prevention and pursuit as long as it does not pose risks, using technological means following the consultation and opinion of the prosecution authorities and of course in consultation with the concession holder and for the supply of more permanent technological infrastructure beyond from what it has at its disposal and will be increased by the Greek Police. The Minister of Citizen Protection also made special reference to the preventive immobilization of vehicles coming to Evros and Thrace in order to transport people who have entered the country illegally. “Several thousands of such preventive shutdowns have already taken place, we will activate and improve cooperation between our services to be even more effective.”

Mr. Oikonomou stated that the implementation, development, dynamic adaptation of these today’s announcements “is under the close monitoring and surveillance of both the Hellenic Police Headquarters and the political leadership. I and my colleagues will have a regular presence in Evros and Thrace to monitor the treatment of illegal immigration and the criminal activity of smugglers and the implementation of what we discussed, agreed with the Greek Police officers and announced here today”.

Regarding “the rumours, the associations, the thoughts, the logics that concern each and every one of us but also the local community as a whole about the causes of the fires…” he said that “The Greek Police to the extent of its capabilities but also other Security agencies are doing what needs to be done. To exhaust any tool and means at their disposal in order to get any answers there may be to questions that citizens have. Until then, however, we must all be careful and calm with trust in the Greek justice system, because this is what political responsibility and our patriotic duty dictate.” Finally, he spoke of the naive behavior of some who, on the occasion of the recent ordeal in Thrace, attempt to discredit the work of the Greek Police as a whole and replace it.

“They are committing great damage against the motherland” he said characteristically, adding that Greece is a European state of law, an organized state and any reaction is determined by the state with its organs. “The Greek Police, the Greek security authorities prioritize the shielding of Evros. We understand the anguish of the citizens, we understand that their confidence has been wounded in terms of the feeling of security, but we are here coordinated without discrediting, without nullifying a great project … intensifying our presence, applying the laws of the coordinated state to fully shield the area and to stand on the side of society, to re-inspire the feeling of security and protection that the region needs”.