On Tuesday, November 22, 2016 the Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas inaugurated the accommodation centre in Ritsona The inauguration of the accommodation centre in Koutsochero will be held on Wednesday.

These are two accommodation centres that have been reconstructed with the contribution of the Hellenic Red Cross, the Red Crescent, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the Ministry of National Defence.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by the Minister for Migration Policy Giannis Mouzalas, the Deputy Minister Giannis Mpalafas, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, the President of the Hellenic Red Cross, the Secretary General of the Red Crescent, the UAE, representatives of the General Staffs and local authorities.
    
The Alternate Minister of Defence in his address, stressed:
 

“This a special day and I feel really happy to be here on the occasion of the inauguration of the refugees accommodation centre in Ritsona.
    
It is a centre that has been built with the mutual effort and contribution of the Hellenic Red Cross, the Red Crescent, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the Ministry of National Defence.
 
One should only take a look at the faces of the children and their parents to realise that a part of the misery and suffering caused by the situation in their country is transformed to satisfaction and hope.

Indeed, the refugees – migrants issue is a huge issue with global repercussions. We, under really distressed conditions, off the beaten track, have managed to handle this matter focused mainly on its humanitarian dimension. Allow me to say that we have given lessons of management as people and as government.
 
Greece, as a country, as a state and community, loyal to the international treaties, the Treaty of Geneva on refugees and human values of civilization, makes every possible effort to treat these people, to provide them a shelter and in parallel, is struggling, at a diplomatic level, for a sustainable solution of distributing refugees across Europe, aiming at a prospective termination of a war which gives rise to refugees.
    
US President Barack Obama‘s words of sympathy during his recent visit to Athens are a confirmation of this, as well as an acknowledgement. He thanked Greece for what it has done and is still doing to respond to this difficult case of the refugees issue, focusing mostly on its humanitarian aspect, which has been pointed out by the Greeks on the islands during their initial reception, as well as in the various accommodation centres in the Greek mainland.
 

Having all this in mind, we are here today, in Ritsona, to inaugurate the refugees accommodation centre which, during a distressed financial period, will offer happiness and comfort to the families of the refugees.

The premises of this centre will meet the accommodation requirements for one hundred sixty (160) families, providing them full-board catering (three meals per day) in an environment of decent living conditions under the supervision and care of doctors and nurses.     

Along with the construction of recreation areas within the premises we are trying to contribute to the psychological elation of the refugees, in particular of the children.

Finally, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education we are trying to intensify our efforts to ensure the fundamental right of education for refugee children.

This effort regards all the accommodation centres and all refugee children  who live in Greece, even temporarily.    

For us, children’s right in education is a primary duty since it stems from the very essence and traditions of the Greek civilization.

Concluding, I would like to thank in particular the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, the Hellenic Red Cross and the Red Crescent for their active participation and excellent cooperation in the construction of the two accommodation centres which we are inaugurating in Ritsona today and in Koutsochero tomorrow. We thank them from the depths of our hearts for their kind offer.
 
 Dear Friends, we hope that your accommodation here will only be temporary. We all wish that you settle at a place which lives up to your expectations.
 
 However, we must all stand together in wishing and trying to put an end to wars, since they are the main cause of refugees, poverty and disaster“.

 In his remarks to the journalists the Alternate Minister of Defence stated:
 
“We have undertaken a great responsibility vis-à-vis mankind and we are trying to deliver. A lot is being offered to these people who had to abandon their homes because of the war, and arrive here as beggars. We have to continue this effort and we shall do so, having an obligation to human values and in this very practical manner we defeat racism and xenophobia.  We will keep on improving the living conditions for them. Greece will remain an ambassador of human values and at the same time we are asking for their mandatory distribution to all lengths of Europe. We are claiming a legal solution which will ease these people. Finally, we are seeking ways to put an end to this war”.