Asked by the journalist about her “controversial” measure detention of all immigrants arriving in the Aegean in small boats, as well as the non -concession of asylum to them, the Minister of Immigration and Asylum replied that this attitude is justified as its island Crete faces a rise to immigrants.
‘Now you have people from countries that Greece does not consider safeincluding the Sudan They are basically detained in prisons, who have no right to seek asylum. How can this be justified? “The journalist specifically asked.
“I want to be absolutely honest. We are trying to maintain a balance for their rights, but also with respect to the rights of the Greek people. We have made it clear that For the next 3 months we will not accept asylum applications. So anyone who enters the Greek territory knows that he violates the Greek law, “Thanos Plevris replied, calling himself a political” hard line “.
The minister claimed that the Crete accepted ‘one, two, three thousand people a day’ by the Libya When he intervened, though he then reduced the number to “almost a thousand” in three days.
“You must know that if countries at the EU border do not take strict measures, then all this flow of immigrants will be directed to you (your states),” Thanos Plevris warned. “Greece used to say it before, but then no one was listening.”
Meanwhile, residents of Crete – whose tourist season is at its peak at this time – have expressed their concern in the news that tourists would not choose the island for their holidays due to increased migratory flows.
“They think this island is full of immigrants … We are worried about our businesses,” a resident of the island told the BBC.
It is noted that the strict immigration policy adopted by Thanos Plevris also concerns the protection of the tourism industry, which, as he says in the news media, is a fundamental priority.