The Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas, today Wednesday 23 Nov 2016, inaugurated the reconstructed refugee accommodation centre in Koutsochero, Larissa. The ceremony was also attended by the HAGS Chief Lt General Vasileios Tellides, the HAFGS Lt General Christos Vaitsis, the Tactical Air Force Chief Lt General Christos Christodoulou and the Commander of 1st Army Lt General Elias Leontaris.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, the President of the Hellenic Red Cross, the Secretary General of the Red Crescent of the UAE and representatives of the local authorities and bodies.
In his address the Alternate Minister stated the following:
“Dear friends, we are gathered here today for a special event, the inauguration of the refugee hot spot in Koutsochero. I am overwhelmed by feelings of joy, since this is a decisive step towards the improvement of the accommodation conditions we provide.
The hospitality facilities were constructed with the joint effort and the contribution of the Hellenic Red Cross, the Red Crescent, the UAE Embassy and the Ministry of National Defence.
We are at a different phase of the refugee issue. It is true that the refugee-migrant issue is a huge one with international repercussions.
Under extremely difficult conditions, we are managing the issue, focusing mainly on its humane dimension, that is the one of giving. Allow me to say that as a nation and as a government we have delivered lessons of management.
Greece, abiding by international treaties, the Geneva Convention concerning refugees and human values, continues the effort of treating these people, sheltering them and at a diplomatic level constituting a viable solution for the distribution of refugees across Europe.
With respect to the current period, we have fulfilled the requirement for a swift construction of accommodation centres. We have sheltered tens of thousands of refugees. We have established more than fifty accommodation centres. We have successfully evacuated Eidomeni area and Piraeus, respecting the particularities of these people. We have established a comprehensive system of health care, we have lain the ground and are working on a training program.
Right now, the situation is different in continental Greece. With the close cooperation between the Hellenic State and the UNHCR, more than 12 thousand people are hosted in houses and hotel facilities.
The first reception centres are being reduced and reconstructed and the Koutsochero and Ritsona accommodation centres are upgraded.
Having all this in mind, we are gathered here today in Koutsochero, to inaugurate the hospitality centre for refugees, which during a harsh financial period will provide the refugee families with happiness and warmth.
The facilities of the accommodation will meet the housing requirements of the refugees providing full-board (three meals per day) in a descent environment of living, under the supervision and care of doctors and nurses.
At the same time the establishment of recreational areas within these facilities contributes to the psychological elation of the refugees and especially their children. Finally, in cooperation with the Minister of Education we are intensifying our efforts to secure their fundamental right to education.
Despite all this, the greatest success and contribution in the whole progressive and democratic world is that we isolate the racist voices and ideas, we are giving essence and are materializing the ideals of humanism and peaceful co-existence.
We are succeeding because we are working consistently and we have a program. We are succeeding because we are turning a deaf ear to the extremist voices of the silly opposition. We are turning a deaf ear to the imaginative articles which only reflect the nightmares of the writer.
And we are moving on, asking at the same time the promised help from Europe, fighting for the legal way and the mandatory distribution of the refugee and migrant flows. We are moving on with the positive assistance provided by the Greek people and our friends.
At this point I would like to especially thank the Embassy of the United Arab Emirate, the Hellenic Red Cross and the Red Crescent for their active participation and the impeccable cooperation in the construction of these two accommodation centres , the one in Ritsona, inaugurated yesterday and the one here in Koutsochero. We cordially thank them for their kind offer.
Dear friends, we hope that your hospitable accommodation here will only be temporary and as enjoyable as possible.
We can only wish that soon you will settle in a place which will meet your expectations.
Closing, allow me to ask you to join me in wishing and doing everything possible to end these wars which are the main cause of refugee flows, poverty and deprivation.
ALTERNATE MINISTER DIMITRIS VITSAS REMARKS IN KOUTSOCHERO LARISSA
The Alternate Minister of National Defence in his remarks to the journalists stated:
“This is a special day for Koutsochero, since we are moving to the second management phase of the refugee issue, as far continental Greece is concerned, which has two legs: one is the reconstruction of the existing structures and the reduction of the number of constructions and the second one is the hosting of refugees in houses and abodes. This procedure will take some time but we are making progress.
Allow me to highlight two other issues:
The first is that it’s been heard on the grapevine, and I do not understand why, that in the region of Thessaloniki and Larissa there will be more accommodation centres and refugee camps. I cannot gather where they get such ideas but we are moving on, turning a deaf ear to them and they should know they are not going to put us under pressure in relation to all this. If they consider this to be some kind of opposition policy I would have to call it pointless and silly, since the refugee issue is a national and international one.
Secondly, the Greek State, and I do not mean just the government but also the opposition and the media , since the Greek people show their solidarity, should intensify our effort, our policy and humanitarian effort so that Europe lives up to its promises. We are only asking for what we have agreed.
Those agreed, are very specific. One is the distribution of refugee flows so that these people find more convenient for them living conditions, we have stressed in the past that Greece cannot become a warehouse of souls. This will benefit neither Greece nor these souls. It is a matter which Europe should manage since it has the social and financial background to do so. The thing is to have the political will and not to submit to xenophobia and racism. Towards this direction we should all work together”.
Answering a relative question he stated:
“Koutsochero will host 1.500-1.700 refugees. They will be mostly Syrian families of refugees. The situation, even today, is satisfactory but this does not suffice. The works will continue and the infrastructure will be enhanced.
If some people, for entrepreneurship purposes, try to take advantage of the refugee issue to make profit, they are barking up the wrong tree. This will not be tolerated. We are making every possible effort so that each Euro entering the country will on one hand benefit the refugees and migrants and , on the other hand , will support the whole case of managing the issue. The financial life of a place is not to be confused with the profiteering of the few”.
A question with respect to the mandatory drafting of men at their 18th years of age, was answered as follows:
“There is not such a thing as mandatory drafting at 18 years of age, let’s make this clear. We are moving on without any changes. There may be some discussions and ideas on the table. Our main focus at the moment remains the reconstruction of the Armed Forces which we hope will achieve the following: a greater utilization of capabilities in relation to the threats Greece is faced with, and on the other hand, the human factor of the Armed Forces which is a force multiplier. Between the issues of when people should be drafted and how the Officers or NCOs can be further trained, I would give priority to the second one”.
