A rising flow of irregular/undocumented/illegal immigrants targeting Greek territory has been recorded in recent weeks.
Nevertheless, controversial Alternate Immigration Policy Minister Tasia Christodolopoulou told the private SKAI TV station on Tuesday said that in her own walk around the center of Athens she did not discern any particular increase in migrants congregating in the Greek capital’s inner city areas. She said “there aren’t immigrants in the center. They are just sunning themselves in the morning.”
She differentiated between immigrants and refugees, ostensibly meaning that the former are “economic migrants” that entered Greece illegally from wherever for better living and working conditions, either in the recession-plagued country, or, more often for destinations in western Europe.
Christodolopoulou said the government has drawn up an emergency plan to deal with the problem on the islands and will announce the program for the greater Athens area and other large cities.
She said that the government’s plan includes the creation of a camp and centers on islands where data on the refugees will be gathered. Following this, she claimed that “permanent housing centers” will be created.
Chrostodolopoulou also spoke on private ANT1 TV, stating that it isn’t irregular immigrants walking the streets of Athens but refugees of war who enter Greece after being hoodwinked by human traffickers who promise them journeys to Italy. “We are obliged to accept refugees of war and offer them dignified living conditions,” she said.
A little later, speaking with the private MEGA TV station, Christodoloupoulou said there aren’t that many displaced people expected to enter Greece, estimating the figure to be at around … 100,000 for 2015. She also “warned” the press to be careful of its labeling, explaining the difference between “irregular immigrants” and “refugees”. “Don’t call them refugees because if you are talking about immigrants or irregular immigrants, the EU will not approve funds.”
Alternate Immigration Policy Minister Tasia Christodoulopoulou and Public Order Minister Yiannis Panousis
Hundreds of refugees enter Greece daily, pouring into the port of Piraeus at a rate of 300 per day.
