«Good morning,
we give this press conference in order to inform the accredited journalists and the media about the decision of the Ministerial Committee that the Ministry of National Defence and the Armed Forces shall deal with the refugee and migration issue and take coordinative initiatives so as to respond immediately, within the deadline which has been set by the European Union, that is February 15, to the completion of the preparation of the five hotspots on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros and of the two reception centres in Schisto and in Sindos, Thessaloniki.
I will make a short briefing, together with the Alternate Minister Mr. Vitsas, the General Secretary Mr. Tafyllis and the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis. I would like to say that the main coordinator of this issue will be Lieutenant General Konstantinos Floros, Director of the Central Coordination Body will be Colonel Georgios Theocharis and the press representative for this activity will be Commander Vassileios Beletsiotis who will be ready, every day at a certain time, to inform you about the development of the operations. For your best information, once a week, a Press Conference will be held, during which we will answer questions and inform you.
At first, I wish to clarify that it is the competent Ministry that will have the responsibility of the migration policy. We have a close cooperation with the Alternate Minister responsible for Migration Policy, Mr. Mouzalas, and we will definitely not intervene in the issue of the migration policy, but we will participate only in the planning and preparation of reception centres.
For the best possible management of this issue within the set deadlines, according to a plan which was submitted to the Prime Minister and to the Ministerial Committee and was approved, a Central Coordination Body for the Migration is created which will operate under my guidance, under the guidance of the Alternate Minister Mr. Vitsas and the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff. It will be hosted at the Operations Centre and it will operate 24 hours a day, in order to coordinate all participating agencies, without – I repeat – intervening in issues related to the competency of every involved agency which is very specific. The pertinence of the Ministry of Migration Policy, as well as of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Hellenic Police and of the nongovernmental organizations has been specified.
In this effort, I have already contacted – and we will have a close cooperation – the European Union, the Ambassador of the European Union in Athens with whom I met yesterday and we had a long discussion, as well as with the special representative of the Commission and of Mr. Juncker who will be here tomorrow and maybe we will have the opportunity to visit together all the islands and the spots, so as to form a first opinion.
The Central Coordinator, along with his assistant who is a Commander of the Hellenic Navy, as well as with the contribution of a legal council and a secretariat, will therefore guide a department of sea and land transports which will monitor the existent transport contracts for refugees and migrants from the islands and the hotspots to the reception centres. Of course, respecting the currently valid agreements with the coast guard and land assets, we will interfere only in case we need to help for the time schedules which have been set to be executed. This is our objective, to observe the time schedule according to which the refugees will remain on the islands for 24 hours and at the reception centres, which will be created in Sindos and in Attica, for 72 hours.
A healthcare department is created, directed by military doctors and doctors of the Hellenic Police. The department will operate under the guidance of local healthcare agencies which are absolutely necessary to facilitate the refugees’ living conditions and, on the other hand, to be able to ensure healthcare standards.
The Central Coordination Body will also have high rank liaisons of the Hellenic Police, as well as of the Hellenic Coast Guard with the participation, of course, of the Minister for Citizen Protection and the Minister of Shipping. The Minister of Migration Policy or a representative of his will participate in the Central Council.
The Infrastructure Department will monitor the necessary infrastructure which must be created in the hotspots and in the reception centres. This infrastructure will be created in two ways: the one is the continuation of works by local contractors who have assumed a certain work under the condition that they will accomplish their work immediately, that is the contracts that have been agreed upon on the islands will be executed under the prerequisite that they will be completed within the time deadline. In parallel, units of the Engineer, assisted by the Hellenic Air Force, when needed, will create the entire infrastructure for us to be able to serve in a coordinated manner all people who will be working at the hotspots, state agents, volunteers, nongovernmental organizations, but mostly refugees.
At this point, I wish to say that we will be ready by February 15. The buildings which will host offices or dining facilities or toilettes will be constructed immediately and the needs for the accommodation of migrants and refugees will be satisfied. Approximately 600 high-quality tents for 10 persons each, will be used in these centres. The tents are suitable for conditions of polar temperatures and will be provided by the Ministry of Citizen Protection. I want to stress that the operation will be conducted in an organized manner. Every refugee or migrant will be held responsible for the tent or for the equipment he will be provided with. Beds and mattresses, as well as all healthcare supplies will be available everywhere. This will be achieved by care of the Central Coordinator for every island and of the Infrastructure Department.
We create a department of Food Supplies, which will consist of ten Armed Forces’ kitchens, which will be able to produce the necessary meals. We want, though, from the first moment to apply the directive of the European Union and to offer the meals provided for by this directive. The price has been defined by the European Union at 5.72. The food cost is the highest price that has been decided. For the first month and until the procedures of the International Organisation are completed, meals will be provided by certain companies which possess these certificates. Of course, if needed, we will provide with food; our kitchens will provide it according to the set standards.
There are islands where nongovernmental organizations are kind enough to have already prepared meals. Of course, all these people are welcome; many of them would give their soul to help. We want, however, to ensure that we meet the standards provided by the European Union and by the UN High Commission for refugees.
There will be a department of Liaison. The representative of the High Commission for refugees in Greece Mr. Philippe Leclerc and of the European Union, as well as of the counsel of the President of the European Commission, Mr. Juncker, who has been assigned competent for migration issues, will play an important role. In every local mechanism on the islands and in the two reception centres, where these relations will be upgraded, as far as the UN High Commission for refugees in Greece is concerned, we would like to use the capabilities developed in other countries, such as Jordan and, formerly, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, related to an extensive refugees database which will include biometrical data. However, this only concerns the Army, nothing will change to EU specifications. The Ministry of Migration Policy carries on making an inventory with the European mechanism Eurodata and, of course, the pertinent Ministry has provided for 100 more machines, so as to prepare a faster register of refugees. I would like to say here that the efforts made by the Ministry of Migration Policy are heroic since everyone wants to help, yet we have received only 48 machines so far.
The time needed is picking up, particularly at the big centre, the one in Mytilene, where we have approximately 3,500 immigrants on a daily basis. There will be a department for NGOs, led by an officer, which will coordinate the so-far certified NGOs and, in cooperation with the Ministry of Migration Policy, which has already done an excellent job at local level, it will coordinate all those who want to help by sector, section, department and procedure.
We believe that the implementation of certain procedures, especially as far as hygiene is concerned, is vital. This is where we will ask the Municipalities and Regions to assist, while making sure at the same time that the installations will facilitate the optimum sanitary operation of the reception centres. We have some infrastructures – chemical toilets – however they cannot cover the current needs. More installations should, and will be, constructed. This will be made to all centres, so as to ensure hygiene, and hygiene rules will be applied and followed by everyone at the reception centres, immigrants and refugees included.
The same pattern will be organized at all islands; there will be a Brigadier General as Military Commander of the island, and a head coordinator, who will be a higher Officer – a Colonel – of the Higher National Guard Battalions Command, assisted by an Officer of the Hellenic Police and an Officer of the Hellenic Coast Guard, also supported of course by personnel from the Migration Ministry.
A Transport Department will be established on every island, respective to the central department. At the Registration and Identification Department, led by a Hellenic Police Officer, an Officer from the Higher National Guard Battalions Command, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, personnel of the administration region and assisting personnel will also participate. As always, we will do everything possible to facilitate their task, especially as far as the organization is concerned -that means the schedules, the existence of certified personnel at all shifts- and we will help make their job easier, with the predetermined flow of immigrants and refugees to registration.
As far as the Health Department on the islands is concerned, we will assign at the beginning as head officer a military doctor of the Armed Forces or the Security Corps. We would like to ensure the conduct of some first medical examinations, particularly in cases where we meet illnesses and people who have suffered greatly.
A special department for the children will be created. A separate health department equipped with a pediatrician who will have the responsibility of the children and, at the same time, we will create areas where the kids can be supervised. A separate registration will be made for the children as, unfortunately, we have observed children casualties. Special scientists and our NCOs, specialized psychologists, as well as volunteering nursery teachers by certified NGOs, will also assist. I asked the organization “The Smile of the Child” for their assistance and it willingly accepted. Of course, there are also other organizations that are already there. All these organizations, as long as they are certified, will help to a better stay for these children, even if it is for only 24 or 72 hours. Also, we will specially care for the parallel registration of children and for their accommodation, particularly at health level.
As far as the current situation is concerned, the archives of photographs are available to you and you will have access, so as to be informed on the current condition of the hotspots, as well as on the further action which will be taken. You will be informed almost on a daily basis.
On Lesvos, most works have been completed, yet, by February 15, we will have reached the numbers of facilities, dormitories and healthcare facilities, for which we have committed ourselves.
On Chios, the situation is good. Further terrain reshaping is required and the procedure of the installation which began yesterday is underway. We have an issue of connecting some installations to the central networks, especially as far as electrical power is concerned. At this point, I wish to say that the Armed Forces under the guidance of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, and of Major General Konstantinos Floros have already taken care so that we will have high power electrical generators, of military construction, which will cover the needs. Imagine that at this moment, on Chios – we hope that the Public Electricity Company will fix the connection soon, yet we cannot wait – the needs will be covered by a generator of 300 KWh capable of meeting the requirements of a whole town. There will also be spare generators, as well as spare desalination systems in all areas, under the supervision of the Engineer, so that all needs are covered.
On Samos, the plan will be formed shortly, because the one which was already completed provides for 9 steps to be accomplished and requires a long period of time. We must have covered the needs by February 15. We want to create this entire infrastructure, especially the toilettes because it is very important to have them, to create facilities that will be able to ensure the standards.
On Kos, there was a problem caused by protests. Some wanted the facilities to be in the centre of the city. However, there are five proposals submitted by the Mayor. We accept one of these proposals which, indeed, is satisfactory. I spoke with the Mayor. It regards an area of 40 thousand square meters of which 50% belongs to the Church and 50% to private owners, one of whom agrees. A short while ago, I was informed that the one who agrees will start to disagree. Yet, we have no time for this. We want to satisfy the local needs. Since the Mayor asked for it, we will requisition this area and create the camp.
I would like to make something clear now. I understand local residents’ concerns. What, however, we will not allow happening and it ends here today – a huge effort has been made by the Ministry of Migration Policy which did not have the necessary personnel and means to solve it – is for the people to charge their mobile phones outside the centres paying 5 euros for every charging.. This ends here. A black market of water which costs 4 euros per bottle ends here. Transferring people who are at risk and charging them 80 euros per person also ends here. This situation cannot be tolerated. All this will be strictly controlled. Some people, therefore, who protest, they probably do so because they will lose this sort of “business”. This “business” ends here. They must realize it. And we will also take measures. We want the locals, who are really going through a pressure, to be able to have their shops, their supermarkets and their taverns working, yet in the context of reason and legality.
Leros has already received an offer by the ELPE (Hellenic Petroleum) on residences. There is an excellent location between the Naval Base and the Mental Hospital. There too, we will have to set some tents to cover part of the needs and meet the 100% of the requirements which exist and, of course, to set healthcare facilities.
Things are easier on Leros. However, I assure you that all hotspots and both reception centres will have been completed long before February 15. We commit ourselves for this.”
JOURNALIST: Did you say “all five centres”?
P.KAMMENOS: All seven, five plus two: five hotspots and two relocation camps, the temporary accommodation centres will be completed by February 15. In Sindos, building facilities of the army have been looted. There, works have begun to make them available for use. For their accommodation, at first, tents will be available and, of course, works are going on for the transformation of the existent buildings.
In Schisto, the camp is guarded and it is in much better condition. There too, central offices will be created at the existent premises, medical practices, healthcare facilities, dormitories and tents. I want to tell you that we seek for a close cooperation over this period when the Ministry of National Defence is involved. Its involvement is temporary. When the duties we have assumed are fulfilled and what we have taken over is organised, the Ministry of Migration Policy will assume this responsibility.
Yesterday, I spoke with the Ambassador – and with Mr. Avramopoulos too – so that we can help the Ministry of Migration Policy too and create a Managing Authority. Officers of the Financial Corps, as well as Major General Prasakis will also be engaged for the creation of a Managing Authority so that projects will be submitted and funds are approved quickly. All this, however, is temporary for us. When we finish the work that we were assigned the Ministry of Migration Policy will continue and when the Armed Forces are needed to contribute we will always be ready to help. This is the social role of the Armed Forces, they have proved it.
I would like to add, though, as far as the whole issue of the great flow of migrants towards Greece is concerned, that I consider the agreement which was signed between the European Union and Turkey as a great step. It is, indeed, a very important fact, regardless of the amounts which are discussed now. In fact, the solution is for the refugees and migrants to be near their homelands and we should all help them return home. Since Turkey is cooperating we think this is a very important step. There are many ideas, one of the opinions that I discussed with the Minister of Defence of the Netherlands – we will discuss it again at the Informal Meeting of Ministers on Friday – is that our Navy can deploy vessels along the borderline and with the existent capabilities of radars and thermal cameras, which also exist on the islands, they can provide information to Frontex for ships which are about to sail from the coast of Asia Minor.
We hope and wish that there will be cooperation between Turkey, especially the Turkish Coast Guard, and Frontex, so that immigrants will be stopped in Turkey; so that Frontex will be able to operate in Turkish territorial waters, instead of operating within Greek territorial waters. We believe that it is a view that can be implemented, given that there is good will. From our side, we can give information and assist this task.
I would like to express my thanks for the assistance we were offered in our mission which, I would like to repeat, is temporary. Finally, I would like to assure you, because I have seen various things written, that we are all together in this. We are not going to replace the Ministry of Migration Policy, a very experienced man and Minister, who has so far fought with the beasts alone, since in the past we had no infrastructure. Now the infrastructure is getting established and our role will be assisting, we are currently responsible for the coordination but we are in this together, nothing will be done if we haven’t decided upon it and coordinated it together.
Our role is temporary. We want to assist the Government and we will do everything possible so as to complete the country’s obligations until February 15. We need to have organization and coordination. There are issues we will discuss. For example, one of these issues is that access, entry to and exit from the hotspots and the reception centres will be free, yet we would like to have them all registered. This means to have, not a guarding but a minimum of order, so as to facilitate these people’s stay and also to protect them from certain extremists who unfortunately appear on the islands and, after having routed them out of their homeland, they seek to engage to this process again. Therefore, it should all be done in coordination”.
