Main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos, in his first briefing on Friday to the press since assuming the post, referred to the issues of refugees and the operation on independent authorities in Greece.
On the refugees issue, he expressed his deep sorrow over the situation in the Aegean. “It is inconceivable for the Aegean to turn into a huge cemetery and the country into a huge camp of trapped refugees and migrants,” he said, adding that despite the fact that Alternate Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas said that he will prevent the closing of borders, he did not exclude the possibility.
Moreover, he said ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis will undertake a series of actions aimed to support the country’s interests and safeguard Greece’s postion in the Schengen Pact area, noting that the opposite would have extremely negative repercussions for the country as well as for the European project.
He also said that on Wednesday Mitsotakis will visit Lesvos in order to be briefed on the prevailing conditions on the eastern Aegean island, adding that ND leader has invited the ambassadors of 18 EU member-states accredited to Greece to accompany him. The initiative aims to point out the dimensions of the problem and to present the Greek positions. Two days later at a European People’s Party (EPP) meeting Mitsotakis is scheduled to meet with top European officials, including Jean-Claude Juncker and Pierre Moscovici. He also added that the matter is mostly humanitarian, but also a matter of security.
“Greece is the border of Europe, and for this reason it has assumed an important responsibility during a period of crisis. It expects support and solidarity from its partners,” he concluded.
Finally, he sternly accused the current Greek government of “obsession”, embarrassment and inertia, charging that it has accepted huge responsibilities based on the Oct. 25 agreement.
On the competitiveness committee, he said that the government’s stance “confirms the government’s will to dissolve the independent authorities.”
(source: ana-mpa)
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