Measures against illegal migration announced

[Ellinas]

The Greek government on Thursday announced in Parliament that it will establish a new agency to combat illegal immigration while at the same time increase the number of border guards.

Deputy Interior Minister Athanassios Nakos said a relevant presidential decree foreseeing the measures is pending.

His statements came in response to a tabled question by Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) MP Athanassios Plevris, who queried the government over what measures it has taken to fight illegal immigration.

The government, Nakos said, is also working on reform of an institutional framework regulating the operation of reception centers for illegal immigrants, saying it was considering handing over the responsibility for their operation to local prefectures.

Referring to the number of non-EU immigrants in Greece, Nakos said that as of Oct. 1 registered legal residents numbered 473,547, while a commissioned study -- authored by Prof. Lianos -- showed that illegal immigrants in Greece are estimated at between 185,000 to 275,000.

The LA.OS MP disputed the numbers, stressing that roughly 70,000 cases dealing with illegal immigrants have reached Greek courts in the first eight months of the year alone.

Plevris also stressed that the time has come to discuss whether the country can withstand the influx of illegal migrants or whether it should consider implementing a quota system adopted by other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.

In response, Nakos said such methods are "beyond Greek mentality, humanism, (Greek) culture and temperament."

ANA

[Ellinas]

It looks like Mr. Nakos never walked to ghettos of Athens to see the living and other conditions there, so he was able to say without any shame that the illegal immigrants are about 200,000. It looks like he only moves from the villa suburbs of North Athens (they are no illegal immigrants there) to the Parliament and vise versa.

[nsminc]

Good.About time.

[Ellinas]

Originally Posted by nsminc
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Good.About time.

Wait till they take any measures first. This wasn't something more than an "announcement" of a politician.

[Prokomenos]

Do you believe they are going to take measures? I seriously doubt it.

[Ellinas]

Originally Posted by Prokomenos
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Do you believe they are going to take measures? I seriously doubt it.

I don't know if they are going to in the near future, but now things will be more tight for ND on this as LAOS will be pressing. The same goes with a possible veto against Skopia.