Sun. Mitsotakis: We are doing our duty by protecting Greece's borders

The need to protect its borders Greece and of European Union while respecting the Human Rights and at the same time EU support for countries close to the Afghanistan, in order to prevent the refugee flows in Europe, the Prime Minister underlined, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during his meeting with the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metzola at the Maximou Mansion.

«We are going through a period of significant challenges, especially on the migration front, where I believe that we are doing our duty, protecting Greece's borders, which are also Europe's borders, always with absolute respect for human rights,» the Prime Minister said.

Mitsotakis also referred to the new challenges related to the situation in Afghanistan and stressed that what was attempted in the past, namely the massive influx of migrants and refugees, will be prevented as it was then: «We managed to prevent it and we will continue with the same policy in the future,» he pointed out.

The Prime Minister also noted that «it is important, particularly with regard to refugee flows, that the EU supports the countries close to Afghanistan and that we ensure that we do not have additional refugee flows to Europe». He referred to his communication with the President of Turkey and said that it is in the common interest of both countries to limit migration flows. «I spoke with President Erdogan and I believe that we have a common interest in ensuring that migration flows are limited as close as possible to Afghanistan,» Mitsotakis said.

For her part, the First Vice-President of the European Parliament said that the last few days have been an excellent opportunity to see «up close the hard work that you, your government and the Greek authorities are doing in facing these unprecedented challenges on all fronts».

Metsola conveyed the message that Europe will continue to stand by Greece. «And the message of the European Parliament is one: Europe will continue to stand by Greece and with the frontline Member States that bear a European responsibility», said the First Vice-President of the European Parliament.

«Our priority should be to adopt the Migration Pact as soon as possible. This is what we have sought, as (the Pact) will put the values we have mentioned, but also the protection of external borders and the expression of solidarity on a tangible basis, so that the different approaches between different countries can eventually be bridged,» he concluded.

He also stressed the need for cooperation «at the global level, with the United Nations and other international actors, so that people fleeing Afghanistan and experiencing this humanitarian tragedy that we are witnessing are able to seek protection in the countries of the region». The Prime Minister agreed with this view, stressing that this must be «achieved in a safe, humane and organised way». On the Greek side, the meeting was attended by Serres MP and Secretary for International Relations of the Southwestern Democratic Party, Tasos Hadjivassiliou.