An agreement between Greece and the International Organization for Migration was signed today by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, and the Director General of the IOM, Amy Pope.

“Immigration will be a huge challenge in the future. We see that today we are faced, worldwide, with many challenges related to people who are deprived of basic goods, to victims of war who do not have any kind of work. Therefore, it is extremely important that we have a very strong organization that we can rely on not only to deal with migration flows, but also to turn irregular migration routes into legal ones. It is also important to tackle the root causes of migration and to offer people a better life so that they are able to stay at home. I would like to especially thank the Director General for her help and tireless efforts to develop this humanitarian activity, which is really important for the planet,” said the Foreign Minister

On her part, Ms. Pope emphasized: “Greece was a founding member of our Organization. Since the early days of the IOM after World War II, Greece has played a crucial role in the migration issue. And of course Greece has experienced the evolution of the issue of immigration over time.

The partnership we have with Greece is a model of partnership for the whole world. And the signing of this Headquarters Agreement is a recognition of the evolution of the partnership, our status as an international organization linked to the United Nations and the importance of addressing migration in a strategic and comprehensive way.

We are very grateful for the efforts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his team for the signing of this historic agreement and our presence here today.”