The Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis, met at the Foreign Ministry today with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Migration, Peter D. Sutherland.
In a very friendly meeting, the collocutors focused on the issue of the refugee and migration crisis and the actions that need to be taken to find solutions benefitting not only the people escaping from war zones, but also transit and reception states. Mr. Sutherland briefed Mr. Xydakis on the initiatives being developed on a European and global level to find solutions to the multifaceted phenomenon of migration.
With regard to the creation of refugee flows, they noted the pivotal role played by the geopolitical turmoil seen in the wider region of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, while they highlighted the need to achieve peace and stability in the region.
The collocutors both approached the issue of the refugee crisis as a phenomenon that requires global vigilance, stressing that the solution to the issue needs to be based on strengthening cooperation and solidarity, not only between EU countries, but also in the international community as a whole.
Finally, mention was made of the need to enhance the effectiveness of the mechanisms for relocating and resettling refugees.
May 11, 2016