Migrants: We are not a concentration camp says Greek minister

[webfact]

Migrants: We are not a concentration camp says Greek minister



"Some Europeans may want to turn the country into a concentration camp or a warehouse for humans"

Greece promises to speed up work
Strong words from Greek Defence Minister
67,000 arrive in January says IOM

ATHENS: -- Bending to pressure from the EU, Greece is to speed up work on five migrant registration centres and two relocation camps.

Last weekend, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said work would be intensified on so-called “hotspot” centres on the islands of Samos, Lesbos, Chios, Kos and Leros near the Turkish coast.

Two military camps will be turned into relocation centres, each with a capacity to house 4,000 migrants.

Greek officials say the work will be done by February 15.

“I want to assure you that all the hot spots and two relocation centres will be ready before February 15, this is our commitment. All seven will be ready.” said Panos Kammenos, the country’s Defence Minister.

“Some Europeans may want to turn the country into a concentration camp or a warehouse for humans,” Mr Kammenos told reporters.

“We will not allow Greece to turn into a storage space for humans.”

“Greece has already paid the price too dearly, much too dearly, in the midst of an economic crisis.”

“The Greek people showed compassion, the Greek people helped.”

EU demands

EU interior ministers have urged Athens to do more to control the influx of migrants.

There has been criticism for a failure to control the flow of arrivals.

Exclusion from the Schengen zone has been fielded as a possible response to the handling of the crisis.

The EU has taken various steps to give money to Athens to deal with the crisis.

However, some member states feel this is not being used enough.

The numbers

1,011,712 – the number of migrants and refugees who used Greece as a gateway to Europe in 2015 (more)
62,000 – the number who arrived in January 2016 (more)
368 – the number of deaths in January 2016 (more)


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-02-04

[seedy]

off Topic post removed. Post is about Greece, not any other countries or continents

[cabanlit]

Then, stop them coming in Mr Minister.

[dabhand]

Then, stop them coming in Mr Minister.

Easier said than done.

The ball is really with the Turks in terms of taking action to stem the flow - it will never be totally stopped. Preventing the small boats and dinghies, crammed full of humanity, is the way to go but needs the total assistance of Turkey to achieve. Will that ever happen?

An agreement was signed off end of last year and Turkey were due to receive €3billion plus lifting of visa restrictions.

However it is only in the last few days that all EU countries actually signed up to the deal - Italy being the reason for the delay. It may be that the numbers arriving in January, being far higher than anyone expected in the winter season, was a clear signal from Turkey that the EU needed to sort out the finances otherwise the flood would continue.

https://euobserver.com/migration/132126

However, given that the money generated by the people smugglers has been shared all the way up the chain of command in Turkey, it is likely that smaller numbers will still mange to 'evade' Turkish authorities, but for a much increased price.

Add that to the monies generated by the trade in ISIS oil and the close connections to the Turkish government will continue to benefit from a continuance of the upheaval in Syria. Although other interested parties in the region, and their facilitators, are also able to benefit, but far enough from the public gaze.

[Credo]

I have a feeling that the signing of the deal with Turkey will simply see more Turks arriving with the refugees. The only difference is the Turks will have a visa.

[harrry]

Then, stop them coming in Mr Minister.

Easier said than done.

The ball is really with the Turks in terms of taking action to stem the flow - it will never be totally stopped. Preventing the small boats and dinghies, crammed full of humanity, is the way to go but needs the total assistance of Turkey to achieve. Will that ever happen?

An agreement was signed off end of last year and Turkey were due to receive €3billion plus lifting of visa restrictions.

However it is only in the last few days that all EU countries actually signed up to the deal - Italy being the reason for the delay. It may be that the numbers arriving in January, being far higher than anyone expected in the winter season, was a clear signal from Turkey that the EU needed to sort out the finances otherwise the flood would continue.

https://euobserver.com/migration/132126

However, given that the money generated by the people smugglers has been shared all the way up the chain of command in Turkey, it is likely that smaller numbers will still mange to 'evade' Turkish authorities, but for a much increased price.

Add that to the monies generated by the trade in ISIS oil and the close connections to the Turkish government will continue to benefit from a continuance of the upheaval in Syria. Although other interested parties in the region, and their facilitators, are also able to benefit, but far enough from the public gaze.

Why is it that the ball is in the Turks court.

The problem is a problem the EU has

Several times the EU has says it does not want turkey as a member.

I think it is a problem the EU must solve but blaming Turkey is not really doing anything to solve that.

[Saradoc1972]

I have a feeling that the signing of the deal with Turkey will simply see more Turks arriving with the refugees. The only difference is the Turks will have a visa.

Even better. The Turks won't be needing a visa.

I've got the feeling there might be up to 18 million Anatolian hillbillies on their feet soon.