The Minister for the Protection of Citizens, Takis Theodorikakos, described the attempts of immigrants from Turkey to illegally enter Greece as a kind of threat to the integrity of our country and our security, accusing them of systematic, methodical and complex instrumentalization of them.

Mr. Theodorikakos, in an interview with ANT1, referred to yesterday’s KYSEA meeting, which decided to further fence the border on Evros, and announced that the procedures for expanding the fence on Evros will begin immediately, while stressing that only in August, i.e. . still not completed, 25,000 illegal immigrants tried to cross our borders.

The Minister also noted that the leader of SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras, has not yet apologized for the question about the 38 migrants rescued on Evros because, as he reiterated, the specific islet in which Greece was accused of non-intervention, the coordinates are based on the Geographical Service of the General Staff of the Army, which informs us , where the border line between Greece and Turkey runs along the Evros River, show that they are in Turkish territory, and emphasize: “Against the instrumentalization of migrants by Turkey, and gangs of smugglers of false hope must unite.”

Mr. Theodorikakos also pointed out that a large number of those who are now trying to come to Greece in an organized manner and with various tricks, mainly from Syria, and people are forced, as they face dilemmas from the Turkish authorities, to return to Syria or be pushed back to side of Greece.

Regarding the methods used on the tracks, he said: “In summer, the depth of the Evros River in many places, for tens of kilometers, is very small, it does not even amount to half a meter. You can easily cross and find yourself on the islets, which are usually located in the middle of the Evros River. They go there, claim to be in danger, and try to get a decision from the European authorities, usually the European Court of Human Rights, to carry out a rescue investigation. These people are not in real danger, their lives are not in danger. Organized groups leave them and then call the Greek police to pick them up. Therefore, I will categorically repeat: the Greek police are not going to become a smuggler of false hopes regarding illegal immigrants.”

Mr. Theodorikakos highlighted the issue of expanding the fence, stating that the tender procedures for the continuation of the project, which is in charge of the Ministry of Citizens Protection, will begin in the next few weeks without the slightest delay, and noted: The river forms the border between Greece and Turkey with a length of about 200 kilometers . Artificial barrier-fence – exists for 37.5 km, there are 12 of them in the northern part, where the border between Greece and Turkey passes by land, and in the southern part in a checkerboard pattern of about 25 km, which were built in record time immediately after 2020 . Experience has also proven that the work of our national security agencies, our police and our army, that in places where a fence is built, everything is much simpler. This basic fact, as well as the constant pressure that exists on our borders and the escalation of the threat, led the CUCEA under the Prime Minister to take the decision to build an artificial dam along the entire length of the Evros River. Of course, gradually, incrementally, because it cannot be done overnight, because very serious funding is needed.”

At the same time, he pointed out that 250 more border guards will be added to the hundreds hired by the government on Evros in winter, and KYSEA’s solution is to modernize the technical, electronic means of monitoring the river.

Finally, the Minister also touched upon the incident with German tourists in Crete and the arrest of two Cretans who took part in it, and emphasized that Greece is a state of law and all visitors can enjoy the beauties of Crete with absolute safety. our homeland.

Source: RES-IPE