President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos stressed on Wednesday the need for an EU Summit for the migration issue during his meeting with “To Potami” leader Stavros Theodorakis.
“It is strange that Europe and the UN have not yet taken decisions on the situation in the Middle East and particularly in Syria,” said Pavlopoulos, noting that as long as the war continues, the phenomenon will multiply. “Foreign policy from Europe and from the international community, and particularly from the UN, is needed,” he said.
According to Pavlopoulos, there must be an EU Summit to decide which are Europe’s obligations, adding that Greece cannot handle the issue by itself. “It is a European and international issue,” he noted. On his part, Theodorakis called migration a major national issue, noting “even if we did everything right, we would not be able to face this huge migration and refugee flow.”
He also said that Europe must find solutions for the refugees and another solution for the migration flow. “If we do not cooperate with their countries of origin and with Turkey, which is the last stop before they get into the boats, I believe things will become very difficult. A national policy, fortunately or unfortunately, is needed for this issue,” said Theodorakis.
Greek State Minister Flambouraris urges all sides to stop ‘petty political exploitation’ of migration issue
Greece’s State Minister for Coordinating Government Operations Alekos Flambouraris urged all sides on Wednesday to stop the “petty political exploitation” of the “tragic problem” caused by the ceaseless influx of refugees and migrants in Greece and especially the islands.
“All these people, parties, organizations and mass media – they have to tell us what they propose; sinking [boats] and drowning women and children? Push them away so that they will be drowned by others?” Flambouraris said after a meeting with Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Tasia Christodoulopoulou and other relevant authorities and government bodies.
“They can forget about that. Our government is trying to solve the problem based on the rules of International Law,” he added.
(source: ana-mpa)
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