Since the spring, we had pointed out to the government that there is only one solution; appointing a person who will be in charge of the cooperation with Municipalities, NGOs, port authorities, police authorities and the European Union. In fact, this person will act as the national negotiator on migration. The Prime Minister has not done it yet and insists on not doing it either. Mr Mouzalas is trying to take some measures, other Ministries too. But we are mainly talking about fragmentary, improvised action.
Stavros Theodorakis visited, along with a delegation of To Potami, the Hockey Stadium in the suburb of Athens “Elliniko”, where migrants will be accommodated. Mr Theodorakis had the chance to meet there the Mayors of the wider region, Mr Giannis Konstantatos, Andreas Kondilis and Giorgos Papanikolaou.
The leader of To Potami visited the place where 700 people will be hosted, while he also talked with the Mayors about the major efforts made to ensure human infrastructure for the relocation of migrants. He pointed out that “abandoned military camps must be used for the accommodation of migrants all over the country”.
He stated, “In my meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and other political leaders, I told Mr Tsipras that in Attica and other areas, there are military camps that have been abandoned. We think that these places, where there is the necessary infrastructure, must be used for the accommodation of migrants. This proposal has also been submitted by other political leaders. We had the impression that Mr Tsipras would take this proposal into consideration and proceed accordingly. Instead, we see that we return to old and failed recipes”.
Commenting on the inability of the government to set up a fundamental plan to deal with the refugee and migration issue, he stated: “Since the spring, we had pointed out to the government that there is only one solution; appointing a person who will be in charge of the cooperation with Municipalities, NGOs, port authorities, police authorities and the European Union. In fact, this person will act as the national negotiator on migration. The Prime Minister has not done it yet and insists on not doing it either. Mr Mouzalas is trying to take some measures, other Ministries too. But we are mainly talking about fragmentary, improvised action.
You may find below the entire statement made by Stavros Theodorakis:
We are here, along with those who will try to demonstrate Greeks’ solidarity, towards migrants. We are here with the Mayors of the areas that have undertaken the major burden to renovate this place, so that they can host migrants for a period of time. We hope that, in the meantime, the government will come up with certain solutions for these people. This place will accommodate them only for three months. Let me tell you. In my meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and other political leaders, I told Mr Tsipras that in Attica and other areas, there are military camps that have been abandoned. We think that these places, where there is the necessary infrastructure, must be used for the accommodation of migrants. This proposal has also been submitted by other political leaders too. We had the impression that Mr Tsipras would take this proposal into consideration and proceed accordingly. Instead, we see that we return to old and failed recipes. Yet, we will insist. Abandoned military camps must be used for the accommodation of migrants all over the country. Moreover, the country must set up a plan about the continuing flows of migrants in Turkey. Too much money has been disbursed, while all that Turkey has done is give promises. Flows must stop. Potami also defends the idea of a Frontex body that will control the borders and alleviate the work of our port authorities. It is really sad that the government has not set up the slightest plan after all these months. Since the spring, we had pointed out to the government that there is only one solution; appointing a person who will be in charge of cooperation with Municipalities, NGOs, port authorities, police authorities and the European Union. In fact, this person will act as the national negotiator on migration. The Prime Minister has not done it yet and insists on not doing it either. Mr Mouzalas is trying to take some measures, other Ministries too. But we are mainly talking about fragmentary, improvised action. What we need is a national plan, like the one that we processed back in April. The government must take this plan into consideration, even at this very last moment”.
Photo credit: Theodore Manolopoulos
