Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras offered to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon a life vest, a gift of special symbolism, that was recovered on a Greek beach and Ban Ki-moon wore it on immediately.

During joint statements with Ban Ki Moon after their meeting at the Maximos mansion on Saturday, Mr. Tsipras stated that the two men discussed the refugee and migration crisis which constitutes a European and international challenge and should be approached with coherent policy based on solidarity and respect to the human rights.

He also called the closing of Greece’s northern borders a unilateral action and underlined “Our priority is the path that has opened with the Schengen countries for the refugees, to become an avenue.

On his part, UN secretary expressed his gratitude to Greece and to the Greek people for their effort and generosity towards many people. “Greece should not be left alone in this crisis” he said and expressed his deep sorrow for the people that died in the Mediterranean noting that “we must cooperate in order to address the causes of this problem”.