“I am particularly pleased to be in Vienna today, a city of music and culture, which occupies a special place in Greek people’s memory due to its significance for Greek history and for Greek Revolution, since a significant Greek community was always present here.
I would like to thank in particular my friend and colleague Hans Peter Doskozil, as well as all the personnel of the Austrian Ministry of Defence for their quite warm welcome.
We discussed our defence relations which are built day by day and are close in the wider region of the European Union and the Mediterranean.
We have been informed by the Minister on the initiatives of the Central European cooperation and the decisions which have been reached so far.
It is very useful for us to form a common European policy, to build a policy at the borders of the European Union.
Greece, amid a dire financial crisis, went through a significant migrants crisis too over the last years, during which it managed to host refugees and, in parallel, received and – is still receiving – a very heavy load of migrants coming from the East.
We have two totally separate issues, on one hand the issue of the refugees and the need to protect their human rights, and on the other hand, the issue of illegal migration which uses the refugee issue to help third countries citizens reach Europe, which can no longer receive any more migrants.
I had the opportunity to inform the Minister on the NATO agreement at Defence Ministers level, by which we have the competence defined under article 3, which dictates that whoever is rescued within Greek or Turkish territorial waters will be returned to Turkey by Frontex.
I asked for the support of the Defence Minister of Austria who leads the initiative of Central Europe for the implementation of the agreement and the activation of Frontex.
As far as the agreement between European Union and Turkey is concerned, it is an agreement which Turkey must respect. On one hand, Europe must be consistent towards its financial commitments to Turkey, and on the other hand Turkey cannot continue to threaten Europe with a massive wave of illegal migrants as a means of pressure.
In the context of this agreement there is no doubt that the rights of real refugees need to be protected. Greece is doing this and will continue to do so.
We consider the proposal for the establishment of hot spots in Turkey with the guarantees of the European Union to be a very important one, which will relieve refugees of their discomfort, and of course will help us safeguard the European Union.
We have agreed that the solution to the refugee issue is their return to Syria, to safe regions, especially in the South, with the guarantees of international organisations. The diplomatic offices of both Ministries will start a close cooperation for the stipulation of a common text which may be the guide for a joint policy in the context of the European Union.
I am very happy to realise that this initiative considers the borders of Greece to be the borders of Europe. This concerns the security of the continent and its protection from phenomena which try to take advantage of refugee and migrant flows, as is the attempt of extremist Islamic elements.
The same applies for the Balkan region. I believe that very soon we will be able to sign a bilateral agreement of close defence cooperation in the field of swift exchange of information.
Closing, I would like to thank once more the Minister and all personnel of the Ministry of Defence of Austria for their heartly welcome.
The Greeks and the Austrians are two peoples who coexist for a long time, with joint efforts based of democracy and human rights.
We would also like to thank Austria for the support it provides to Greece during the financial crisis, at European Union level”.
