Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras responded to a question tabled by main opposition New Democracy MP George Koumoutsakou on Greece’s refugee and migrant policy.

Question

Koumoutsakos pointed to the agreement that Tsipras reached with the European Commission concerning Greece taking responsibility for 50,000 refugees and offering them low rent. He pointed to the weaknesses of the 17-point deal that had been accepted at point blank without relevant studies on the matter. “Why did you agree to these pledges without a visible way in which these could be applied?” He pointed to the problems that could occur as Greece meets the demands of what it has pledged.

1. What is the link between fiscal and refugee policy?

2. Based on the agreement, can member states close their borders and trap refugees in Greece?

3. Where will the refugees and migrants who come after the 50,000 people Greece has taken responsibility for be kept?

4. What do you mean when you state that rent will be funded for 20,000 refugees and their entry to the social fibre?

5. How can you speak of temporary hospitality and then speak of their entry to the social fibre?

6.What do you mean when you talk about coordination in operations with Turkey and Greece?

7. What exactly are our European partners calling for regarding Turkey’s stand?

“Turkey won without making any pledges. What did it gain? Economic 3 bln euros. Politically, visa for Turkish citizens,” he said. “We? Nothing!”

Response

Tsipras said that the question gives him the opportunity to express his sorrow for the human tragedy unfolding in the Aegean Sea, following the two shipwrecks on Thursday that are becoming a daily occurence. “The waves of the Aegean don’t wash up just dead children, but EU culture,” he said, pointing to the Western governments’ responsibility for the crisis due to the operations in the region to push through geopolitical interests. “Shame!” he said, pointing to Europe’s inability to handle the situation with “crocodile tears” for the dead children. “What about the living people coming in tens of thousands as refugees? Nobody seems to like them,” he said, pointing to Europe’s failure to support its own values.

For him, the EU ideal was born when the Berlin Wall fell whereas now new walls are being created. He thanked the Greek Coast Guard for its rescue of hundreds of lives. PM Tsipras pointed to the dilemma: Is it more important to rescue people or push them back?

Greece cannot just choose to be the “guard” of the European borders. “On the contrary, we should adopt a stand that is active and intervening, so as to deal with and handle the special problems of Greece,” he said, pointing to a humanitarian approach to the crisis that is both constructive with proposals and to also be a link between the EU and Turkey. He said Greece isn’t just a “poor relation” that needs funds, but a more active player due to its geopolitical position.

Refering to the summit in Brussels on Sunday, October 25, he said that Turkey was missing. “At the summit, we made it clear that in recent months Greece has been carrying the burden but has the honor of showing Europe’s more humanitarian side,” said Tsipras, adding however that the crisis is too large for one country to handle alone. The EU has been moving at a “turtle’s pace” but is now taking action for the relocation of refugees. He said that Europe needs to handle the situation with greater coordination between member states.

He said that one of Greece’s steady position is not to encourage refugee flows from Turkey to Europe. “Our position is to support a contained process of relocation of refugees from Turkey to Europe,” he said, adding that he wants an organized and lawful relocation.

Tsipras refered to comments he made after the summit where he stated he was thrilled and proud because he had dissuaded his European partners from creating a “refugee town” – or as Tsipras says, “a concentration camp” – in the midst of Athens but, rather, persuaded them to subsidize some 20,000 to live in rented homes around the city. “That demand existed!” he told Koumoutsakos, adding that it may not have been an official demand, but it existed nonetheless. The Greek PM focused on the dangers of such a plan as it would have created a ghetto.

Seconds – Koumoutsakos

Koumoutsakos said that he did not receive answers to his questions, especially in regards to Turkey. “We need European solidarity, and that is why we need to be responsible in meeting our pledges but you are agreeing to things that the country cannot do,” he said, pointing to the difficulty in implementing the program. He pointed to the necessity for Greece’s security and asked Tsipras what Greece is getting in return. “Did you secure something (for Greece) in return when making your pledges?” he asked. He said that a good return would have been having Frontex also operate in Turkey’s coasts.

He called for the “blame game” to stop! A  government needs to lead and the opposition is the one that needs to criticise. “Govern!” he said, adding that the question is not for the opposition to offer proposals but for the government to be responsibility to ensure that the country isn’t a camp for irregular migrants.

Seconds – Tsipras

Tsipras said that Greece will put lives above all else. He said that the people entering Greece are not “illegal” migrants. He spoke to the danger of Koumoutsakos’ placement pointing to false assumptions concerning migrants, especially when the problem is linked to employment. “Do you know what jobs they do? They agree to take jobs no Greek would fortunately or unfortunately do,” he said, pointing to avoiding racist comments.

Regarding Turkey, he pointed to a stand of national responsibility. “We don’t intend to let (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel negotiate with Turkey. We are the neighbors and we will negotiate with Turkey,” he said. He underlined that there will be no joint Greek-Turkish operations in the Aegean Sea.

Taking on a rhetoric tone, he asked how much the cost of warmth, food etc. is placed. “We don’t want a euro to do our responsibility towards the people dying at our gate!” he states, adding that at a time of difficulty “Greece is teaching humanity!” The real face of Europe is the one the isle of Mytilene is showing and not the one in Hungary where some are tripping refugees so as to photograph them!

Tsipras said

– The Aegean Sea does not only wash ashore bodies of children, but it washes ashore the EU culture

– I feel ashamed by Europe’s inability to deal effectively with this drama.

– The tears poured today are crocodile tears because it isn’t just the dead children washed ashore. What about the children whoare stacked on the road to exile?

– Our primary task is to limit the humanitarian tragedy!