Alternate Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas met with mayors of districts in southeast Athens to discuss the refugee and migrant center at the old Greek Air Force facilities and Hellenikon Airport. Athens Mayor George Kaminis, Central Union of Municipalities of Greece head nd Marousi Mayor George Patoulis, Galatis municipality representatives as well as reps from the islands of Kos, Rhodes and Samos took part in the meeting.

Mouzalas described the government’s plans to house the refugee at abandoned air force hangars with further details to be discussed during a meeting on Tuesday with the mayors of Glyfada, Elliniko-Argyroupolis and Alimos.

The mayors also decided on the formation of a committee including representatives of KEDE and the ministry to discuss any issues that may arise.

Patoulis spoke to the press after the meeting, stating that the plan was not “fully accepted” by the mayors of the southern sector, while there were also no answers on what will happen in the case of an increased arrival of migrants and how this will be dealt with. Furthermore, he expressed his opposition to the use of former Olympic facilities to be used as housing shelters for refugees pointing out that “Greek people paid dearly for (these) and that we still owe money for (them).”

Elliniko Mayor Yiannis Konstantatos voiced objections to the plan since people were expecting the Elliniko site to be eventually developed, creating jobs. Glyfada Mayor Giorgos Papanikolaou raised issues of public safety and hygiene, while Alimos Mayor Andreas Kondylis noted that the plan was being promoted “without our knowledge and agreement.” On his part, the municipal councillor of Kos, Nikos Kantarzis, highlighted his region’s opposition to a hotspot being set up on Kos.