Brussels, 08/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Greek government has again denounced Turkey's lack of resolve when it comes to containing the flow of illegal immigrants crossing its borders. “Greece believes that the problem of illegal immigration, with its intense humanitarian dimension, can be handled effectively with sincere cooperation at the international and bilateral level, with productive cooperation between neighbouring countries ..; but not through false allegations and unfounded accusations”, George Koumoutsakos, the spokesman for the Greek foreign affairs minister, said on Sunday 7 October. “At a time when all evidence shows, beyond any doubt, that Greece's eastern land and sea borders are experiencing continuous and intensifying pressure from an increasing number of illegal immigrants, certain circles in Turkey are making, in various ways, an overt effort to distort reality and to avoid their own responsibilities”, he was reported by the Greek press as saying. Some 7,994 illegal immigrants were arrested at the borders of Greece in 2005. In 2006, this number reached 22,151 and, during the first eight months of 2007, 17,897 illegal migrants from Turkey were arrested. Mr Koumoutsakos takes the view that it is obvious Turkey is not complying with its commitments under the terms of the readmission protocol between the two countries. Between April 2005 and May 2007, Turkey accepted readmission for 1,646 illegal immigrants out of a total of 24,754 requests, that is: 6.65%. The spokesman went on to add that no real progress has been made when it comes to negotiations aimed at concluding a readmission agreement between Turkey and the EU. Mr Koumoutsakos concluded, saying: “What we are looking forward to from the Turkish side is, on the one hand, a substantive response within the framework of existing bilateral cooperation between the relevant authorities and, on the other, the speedy conclusion of the readmission agreement with the EU”.
The European border agency, Frontex, is currently coordinating missions in the Eastern Mediterranean region, as part of Operation Poseidon 2007. In June this year, Frontex had reported that over 900 illegal immigrants had been intercepted. The UN refugee agency (the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR) notes for its part that the number of migrants and asylum seekers intercepted or saved by Greek coastguards in the Aegean Sea is around 4,500 this year, a figure that is rising steeply compared to previous years. The Greek police even cites the number of 5,000 persons arrested on the islands of Samos (2,400), Chios and Lesvos alone. On this occasion, the UNHCR expresses great concern about the conditions of detention in the Samos holding centre due to overcrowding and lack of hygiene, and calls for its immediate closure. The Greek authorities have pointed out that all these persons should be transferred to a new centre by the end of October. It should also be noted that, for the first eight months of the year alone, some 3,500 Iraqis have submitted a request for asylum with Greece. The EU country that has received the most requests is Sweden (10,800 requests filed from January to July). Greece is regularly blamed for its failings with regard to procedures for access to asylum. These mainly include the lack of information about asylum seekers' rights and the procedures applicable, the lack of interpreters and insufficient legal aid. Finally, in June this year, Greece set itself apart by its persistent refusal to examine asylum requests sent to it by other member states (EUROPE 9441). (bc)