Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said on Tuesday that the migration problem in Greece is huge and the country cannot carry the weight of the influx.

“The waves of war in the Middle East will lead to waves of thousands of migrants,” he said, adding that the issue is not just a Greek one. “Saying I will close off the entry points is one thing, but seeing a sea full of children is quite another. The EU needs to accept that these are refugees who cannot stay on the islands for health reasons.”

Kammenos also suggested that facilities should be created on the mainland. He said that creating island facilities would just increase the inflow. “Instead of giving funds to Frontex so that it can go around, funds should go towards setting up facilities,” he said, adding that penalties for human traffickers should also be tightened.

Concluding, he said that a statement he made concerning the stabilization of Greece’s situation so that migrants do not reach Berlin, was misinterpreted. He added that he had not made a threat but pointed out a mere reality due ot the increasing migrant inflow.