Kyrides in Evros: more than 75% of the total decline in migration flows from Turkey – a growing trend in Gavdos

“Not a single boat has left the Egyptian coast in the last decade, and yet we see that from eastern Libya, an autonomous region during the civil war, we have a small flow – but with a small increasing trend recently – towards the south of Crete. We have expressed support “We are happy with this trip, and this agreement was something we presented to our partners when they were interested in Ukraine.”

“Fortunately, though, the bells have rang and we have this journey now. We expect what we have achieved elsewhere, as in Tunisia for example. Egypt is a much bigger country, very great indeed, and we are grateful for the role it has played in the region as a whole,” he noted. Mr. Keridis indicated that she needed this support.

Kyrides: The goal is to find the best solution for Gavdos

Regarding when he would go to Crete and for what purpose, Mr. Keridis said:

“The majority of the flows belong to Egyptians and are related to the economic crisis inside Egypt, which has been hard hit by the war in Gaza. We have 8 million displaced people in Sudan, and we had a civil war in Ethiopia. The entire Sahel region is on fire. The entire Middle East today, as a whole, is in trouble. Aside from Gaza, let us remember the Houthis, everything that is happening in southern Lebanon, and so on.

My goal in visiting Crete is to consult with the local community, the regional governor, municipalities and local actors, so that I can find the best solution to deal with this issue safely. We got along well (…)

We are here to help the local community. The resources and means exist. Crete will not be left alone, and even more so, Gavdos, a very small island with very few permanent residents.

The government's message is that we are here to support and work together to find the best solutions, as we have done everywhere in Greece. We got that good result, if you will, in Evros, with a 90% decline from the highs of last September. “There was also a problem with traffickers in Egnatia.”

Regarding whether cooperation with Turkey is working effectively and what are the measurable results, the Immigration Minister noted:

“We have them and they are undeniable. They are published monthly. The overall decline in flows from the Eastern Mediterranean corridor, from Turkey, is more than 75% from the highest levels in September.

We have a very significant reduction in the reception and registration system, exceeding 35%. On Lesbos, we reached 6,000 residents last January, and within 45 days the number was down to 3,500.

I'm talking about Lesbos, which is the largest, the symbolic island, which has traditionally received the most pressure.

Cooperation helps, and the “key” to dealing with the problem now in Gavdos is cooperation with Egypt. This is where we direct our attention. Yesterday, I met with the Egyptian ambassador to the ministry. The Prime Minister is going. We have a lot of things to do to help and support Egypt at this very critical international juncture.

Regarding the question of whether Greece will take a hard line on immigration – similar to Italy's – or a softer stance, Mr. Kyrides stressed:

“It is clear that we are on the line of strict border protection. We have had a big fight to convince bipartisanship – not the extremists and gullible people of one wing, but at least bipartisanship – that at this very critical stage we cannot be gullible. We are humanitarians, we are Europeans, Europeans, we believe With European values, but we are not naive. This means “yes” to strict border protection while ensuring the safety of human life, while respecting international law, but strictly.

This is what the fence shows, and this is what we have invested in border guards, new technology, new Coast Guard ships, all for better governance.

In terms of Meloni or in terms of Sunak, we have achieved better results. The increase was less than that.

The post-coronavirus situation is an international one. We are at the most sensitive point, because we have two corridors. We are not like Italy, which only has the central Mediterranean. We also have the Eastern Mediterranean from Türkiye and one from Libya. So, we have to be more vigilant and careful. I believe that we succeeded at the guarding and management levels. We do not have the problem spreading in public places. As for what I saw in Italy throughout the past summer and fall, through the reception and identification system we can ensure the safety of the local community.”