In his interview today on SKAI radio's “Imerologio” with journalist Pavlos Tsimas, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis discussed critical issues in Greek foreign policy – following yesterday’s meeting of the National Council on Foreign Policy – including Greek-Turkish relations and developments in the migration issue.
More specifically, stating that our European partners recognise that Turkey is a destabilising factor in the region, Mr. Varvitsiotis highlighted that, having become accustomed to the tension with Turkey, we are continuing to fortify our country diplomatically, remaining in a state of heightened mobility and multiplying our contacts in Europe and throughout the world.
On the issue of the requisitioning of property for the creation of closed pre-departure centres on the islands of the North Aegean, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that he acknowledges the fatigue expressed by the islands’ residents, but that this is the only solution for protecting the country against increasing migration flows. “We are asking for time to show that the new asylum procedure is working. It has to be understood that the system cannot work without closed pre-departure centres. The country cannot bear more migrants,” he added.
February 13, 2020