The Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, Sevi Voloudaki, discussed the 1,139 migrants transferred to the Agia reception center and the new amendment, while expressing her view that the increase in migration flows is orchestrated and functions as a means of pressure related to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, which has resurfaced. Specifically, she stated on ERT News: “I speak daily with the coast guard and have visited the facility in Agia every week, so I understand and know very well from first hand all the burden that our coast guard has carried throughout this recent period.”
Voloudaki: They are considered detainees after the amendment’s passage
The Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum continued: “The truth is that after the amendment’s passage suspending asylum application examinations, these people are considered detainees. They must therefore be handed over to the Greek Police and transferred to closed facilities designated for such detainees in the mainland. Some transfers were made initially, but the truth is that recently, since August 20th, no other transfers have taken place. There was no specific problem, simply the need for further coordination and proper facility preparation, which took longer than anticipated. There are available positions to transfer these people, and we must consider that this number escalated over the last three days. In other words, this unmanageable situation developed in the last three days.”
Voloudaki on migration: Coast guard vessels are in Chania and transfers will begin
Meanwhile, when asked whether weather was the main reason for reduced migration flows in August, which increased again with improved conditions, the minister commented: “There were other days from August until the day before yesterday with good weather and we had no arrivals. I believe this is the result of broader geopolitical discussions. You know, recently, the Turkish-Libyan memorandum discussion resurfaced, with all the announcements about plots south of Crete. I believe all this is being used as a means of pressure.” She continued: “There was some reduction in migration flows, and certainly now it’s not what was happening in July. Those large vessels with 500 people that brought us about 10,000 people in 10 days haven’t occurred. We continue and intensify all our efforts, naturally at the diplomatic level and everything else. It’s not that we’ve abandoned all our efforts. So this is an ongoing negotiation, I would say, and even the measure to suspend asylum applications doesn’t mean that because the amendment was for three months, it cannot continue. We cannot yet say if it will be extended, but certainly it’s something we’ll reconsider depending on flow patterns. It’s in our planning, according to the Prime Minister’s announcements, to create a closed facility in Crete. However, I repeat that the numbers until now, until Friday, were absolutely manageable. And I should mention that gradual decongestion will begin today. Coast guard vessels are already in Chania and transfers will start today. They won’t remain there. These are closed mainland facilities specifically designed for people treated as detainees. First, let me say the goal is complete decongestion, meaning emptying the space entirely. This is done, has been done until now, and is always done on the islands. So gradually it will empty until everyone leaves. This, as I said, will start today and continue in the coming days. I believe it’s a matter of days for this complete decongestion to occur.”
