Attempt to blackmail Europe using Erdogan’s recipe, Libya’s Marshal Khalifa Haftar has been accused by Vassilis Kikilias.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Vassilis Kikilias.

“In Crete we have the result of a policy in North Africa, pursued by eastern and western Libya, a policy that gave Erdogan billions from the European Union. Either because of neighborhood or because of copying, Haftar is trying to extort the same thing and the flows have been transferred to the Libyan Sea with the images we have seen in recent weeks in Crete,” Kikilias said, speaking to Mega.

Kikilias presented as a necessity the harsh measures included in the amendment submitted by the government on migration, against the backdrop of the increase in migrant flows in Crete.

“The government has been driven to a series of tougher measures. It is not a simple matter of not accepting by waterways from North African countries any migrant to take asylum. In my view, this is not about refugees,” he said.

Among the measures included in the amendment are the suspension of the processing of asylum applications for those arriving from Africa by water, the establishment of at least one closed structure in Crete and more active cooperation between the Navy and the Limerikos with local authorities in deterrence operations.

“Because of the situation in sub-Saharan African countries, civil strife, genocide, war situations, and the climate crisis, we have had, are having and will continue to have migratory flows to Europe,” he said, saying it is something we are seeing in waves.

Kikilias argued that there is a need to prepare Europe’s gateway countries. “Our country and neighbouring countries, such as Italy, Malta and the rest of Europe, must prepare for this time, when security is not a given and must be claimed by organised policies that respect human rights, but also to ensure that the resident of Attica Square is not called a fascist when he wants to have security for himself and his children.”

What will apply to the closed structure

On the closed structure, the Shipping Minister explained that anyone arriving in Crete would not be able to cross to the mainland and then to Northern Europe. “He does not leave the structure unless he wants to go back, otherwise he is detained. The law will be enforced,” he added.

In the same context, he called for special attention for islanders, reminding that it is the government’s obligation to enforce the law and order. “Please kindly be careful either for islanders or for our fellow citizens when we speak in unseemly terms. If you lived in an area where there was lawlessness, the feeling of being loose and sleeping in front of your door, not knowing if it was safe to move children to school and the playground, and this was going on for months what would your psychology be or what would you think? I don’t want to go to the other extreme, I want there to be a balance between freedom and democracy and security and the acquired rights of citizens in our country,” he said.