G. AFTIAS: I have heard that you have been the whole night in the Ministry and you were constantly updated. Soon, you will have a big meeting with the Prime Minister. Minister, what was the picture during the night?
NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS: Look, as regards my constant updating, there was a flow of information that if I was not so close, I would not be able to follow it so easily. For that reason, we decided together with the Chief HNDGS that we should be close to the Ministry of National Defence yesterday.
The Prime Minister’s order was explicit: borders should be protected. Far more than anywhere else, I would say that this should be made clear in Evros, where we had information that too many people would be gathered, trying to cross the borders and indeed in an organized manner, by many means. A lot of incidents took place at night, and I don’t want to go into detail; besides, I do not have the complete picture in numbers. This information is clearly cross checked with the Police that supervises this domestic security safeguarding operation in the country.
The Army assists with border surveillance and supports the Police in its duties. This cooperation is working very well, particularly in Evros. There were many incidents of deterrence the whole night. I believe that the borders were protected.
G. AFTIAS: Were there any arrests? I have heard that there were some arrests, because we saw that some people entered using passages…
NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS: Some case-files were created as a result of arrests. As I said earlier, let us not talk about numbers; I assume that later in the day, these numbers will be cross-checked and disclosed.
Borders should be protected and are protected. This should be shown first of all in Evros before anywhere else. Of course, the first flow of people that would try to enter – and I agree with Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis who is on your show – does not come from Idlib. To get to the borders of Evros from Idlib, you need lots of days. They probably travelled from Constantinople after they have been given the green light to be forwarded to Greece, since in Turkey’s view the gates towards Europe are opening.
However, it remains to be seen on the next day; as well as our organized reaction.
G. AFTIAS: Minister, what message do we send to Erdogan? Is it a message of determination?
NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS: Clearly! As you can understand, it is of great importance to hold on in the next few days. Yesterday, the weather was bad and for that reason, I believe that there were no attempts by the sea. Of course, it is more difficult to control the situation at sea, compared to land borders. In any case, however, I consider that the mobilization of our assets has been exhausted, so that a wall of deterrence would be built everywhere. This will also be put to the test in the following days.
We will do what we have to do: We will move more Forces as well; we will reinforce the protection of borders on a daily basis. Apart from that, a broader debate opens that will be transferred – it has already been transferred since the Prime Minister has made the first contacts with European Leaders – at EU level.
In the middle of the week, I will attend the EU Defence Ministers’ Conference that will be held in Croatia. We have a lot of things to discuss there.
G. AFTIAS: I hear that you and the Prime Minister have been constantly updated during the night by the Chief HNDGS. Did you have any meeting with staff officers at the Ministry? Were you in Chios and Lesvos?
NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS: The Deputy Minister, Mr. Stefanis went to Lesvos, because he had to see the situation on the ground. Everyone, if I may say so, got where he needed to go. The Chief HNDGS went to Evros with the Minister of Citizen Protection, in order to check on the ground the deployment of Police and Army Forces along the borders.
At night, we were all in place and we were watching. It is important to have a constant flow of information and updating these hours and that is what we did. Credit goes to the guys out there, who did their job. Let us not forget that.
G. AFTIAS: Minister, borders should be constantly reinforced, because it is shown by Erdogan that this will continue…
NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS: I believe that this was normal and expected. When you get the information that so many people are on their way to the borders and in an organized manner, you cannot stand by and watch!
G. AFTIAS: Was there any time at night that the Chief HNDGS told you “we should give 110% in our efforts”? Did you have a feeling that last night was a rough one?
NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS: We knew that there would be increased activity of attempted inflows at night, because too much people came and we are not able to have a picture of the crowds that reach the borders.
Apart from that, as I said earlier, the waterway was more difficult due to the weather conditions, while land routes are easier due also to the speed of gathering. However, there were people on the borders to prevent such inflows and I believe that this was achieved. However, it should be continued over the next few days.
The message should be clear: Greece is determined to protect its borders from massive refugee or immigrant inflows. We will analyze the evidence over the next few hours to see what all these people have to do with the refugees from Idlib. I have commented for some time now that the release of refugee flows from Idlib entails the possibility of Jihadist groups inflows. I have said that both in NATO and the European Union. It has been recorded.
In any case, I insist. Last night’s situation does not originate from Idlib. Two to three days are required to cross Turkey and reach the borders in Evros. The situation in Idlib is linked by the Turkish leadership with the opening of the flows towards Europe. In this way, Turkey tries to take a very good advantage of the situation. However, we have a job to do and will do it right.
