Tsipras: Refugee crisis is a common problem for Europe

Tsipras asked for the sharing of the burdens underlining that Greece has born the heavier burden

The refugee crisis is a global and European crisis and Europe should see it as a common problem and face it collectively, said Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in his statements after the completion of the EU Summit on Migration in Vienna on Saturday. The Greek leader noted that if we (Europe) do not meet our commitments then we will “face again huge impasses and then the fear of the rise of nationalism and of xenophobia will become a reality and will lead Europe to an impasse”. Tsipras asked for the sharing of the burdens underlining that Greece has born the heavier burden and set the issue of the preservation of EU-Turkey agreement, pointing out that it is necessary for Turkey to intensify its actions to decrease the flow of refugees. Moreover, Tsipras said that from UN General Assembly where they discussed the migration as a main universal problem he came to Austria where “we specified some of its aspects”. “I can’t hide that there were views and voices in the Summit that have no relation with the climate that prevails in the international community on the problem, a problem that has humanitarian dimensions” he said adding that “there were voices saying that Europe should build fences and walls” and underlined that “the EU-Turkey agreement is an agreement that wants to tackle the human smuggling not the refugees which means to replace the illegal with legal flows.