In the hands of justice is the Immediate investigation of suspected interconnection of NGOs interface With traffickers of refugees-immigrants in the Northern Aegean, he pointed out Minister of Maritime and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias In an interview he gave to OPEN.
“Some NGOs seem to have been associated with data that has been collected by the Coast Guard, may be related to various illegal ways of traffickers’ circuits. Justice is responsible for checking these folders. These people must reach justice and be tried, if and when. And if this proves there will be sanctions for NGOs that play this role, “the minister said, noting that” Greece is a country with borders, it is not a vineyard. Can’t any gentleman or lady with the sign of one NGO nHe comes to our country and do whatever he wants. The country has laws, the prime minister has given clear orders and we are going to implement. Everyone will respect that. Anyone who comes to our country or wants to live in our country or wants to do social work, as he thinks, will live with our rules, with our laws, will respect our cultural heritage, our religion and our way of life. “
Referring to the Coast Guard, he stressed that it is the main lever and arm of the country’s maritime borders, mainly in terms of refugee-migrants, with trained men and women in the body fighting in adverse conditions and night.
Recognizing their decisive role and difficult task, Mr Kikilias heralded the purchase of new modern equipment and recruitment to further enhance the CSR.
“We will quickly proceed with all the supplies of the Coast Guard vessels, its digitization, infrared cameras, drones, satellite downloads and whatever new technology is available to support men and women of the Coast Guard. I have already announced the previous week, I spoke with the Deputy Minister of the Interior, responsible for the issues of recruitment, Mrs. Charalambogiannis, to jointly ask the prime minister – and I believe that will be made by significant hires for the Coast Guard next season. And we will support these people with all our might, because they protect our maritime borders and perform a function and important work, ”he said characteristically
On ticket pricing policy, he estimated that ticket price increases would be avoided by approximately 13%announced by the ferry companies that they would apply on May 1.
The minister stressed that within 20 days of taking over his duties “We have legislated a 50%reduction in port fees, which essentially leads to a reduction in the cost of third -party tickets, between 34 and 36 million euros.” Therefore, as he said, “Based on this move we have made, but also with the decrease in fuel prices around 8% so far, I appreciate that we will reshape these increases while in the speedboats, which are enough, they connect many destinations and have already used ecological fuel, I think there will be announcements for the next day, Families with children and car, Ale Retour, group tickets and so on. “
He added that 40% of tickets are already discounting, stressing: “To be fair to the ferry, who in the winter months continue to connect our islands with the mainland – this is a key, strategic importance to me – I must say that 40% of tickets are mandatory discounts. So, are you a student or a student? 50% off tickets. Are you a needy? 100% discount. Are you a lot of children? 50% off. Are you an island worker? Discount. Are you a small or middle businessman with the family business on an island? Discount. And these are non -payable by the state. That is, it is a social policy that companies do. Above these tickets there will be discounts and above them there will be prices. I believe that for the middle class, for the average Greek and his family it is a very important political initiative of the government. We will see it in practice the next few days and of course I will not stop there. We are preparing other things for the summer season. “