Galery

2

1

"We took what we took," said the Deputy Minister for Citizens Protection Manolis Otonas in an interview for Real fm Radio concerning the illegal immigrants hundreds of whom arrive in Greece every day. He stressed that only immigrants eligible for international protection will remain in the country and commented on the objections of the European Commission on the wall against illegal immigration: "The exercise of our sovereign rights, not in violation of international conventions and human rights and dignity of people of every race, colour and origin is a matter of government choice and not of arrangement."

It became clear at the same time that the Ministry for Citizens Protection intends to involve large vessels in the fight against illegal immigration.

Two ships that are currently in the port of Rotterdam and have a capacity of over 1000 people will play the role of sailing centres receiving illegal immigrants. At the same time, the formation of three reception centres at the old military units in Evros is in its final stage. The Greek authorities requested assistance from the special government office in Denmark for them. The objective is to increase their capacity by placing large appropriate prefabricated buildings.

The Ministry for Citizens Protection was considering options for establishing sailing centres for immigrants due to lack of space in military units, but also because of the reactions of many citizens in recent months. Therefore, the Ministry requested a list of all stopped due to confiscation and other reasons passenger ships which are in Greek ports. Information was also requested on their capacity, the ability to accept immigrants, their security and the debts of the owner companies. Such a plan was considered even by the New Democracy government. He said one ship was to swim in the Aegean Sea and to collect illegal immigrants from the Greek islands and the area around the Maritsa River.

But experts say the idea of using a classic passenger ship as receiving centre for immigrants is flawed on issues of safety and health of immigrant passengers. Therefore, the Ministry has decided to rent two huge ships from the Dutch government, which are specially adapted for a longer stay of illegal immigrants or people who are transported from one country to another because of an emergency.

These are vessels which look like huge cargo ships carrying hundreds of tons of goods. Instead of containers, however, they have specially constructed rooms for accommodation of immigrants. Furthermore, security measures can be observed on the specific ships as there are provided special facilities for uniformed persons, external control access to the ship, etc.

Dutch police used these ships as temporary detention for aliens who are caught in the region of Rotterdam. The Embassy of the Netherlands and the representatives of the owning company, however, have assured the Greek Ministry that the country could use the ships for its needs concerning the illegal immigrants issue. Greek government delegation will visit Rotterdam in the coming days. According to the plan, the ships will lay alongside the ports in Alexandroupolis and the Aegean islands.

Engineers from Denmark are expected to arrive in Greece after a few days, which most likely will begin to build special prefabricated buildings in some military units in Evros in order to "use every square meter of each room to increase their capacity without spending huge sums for the adaptation of the abandoned military facilities", says a police officer.

At the same time, the initial and most conservative estimates of the technical department of the Greek police show that the cost for the construction of the wall along the Greek-Turkish border in Evros will be 4-5 million euros. Every metre of the fence, which will be about 3-5 metres high, will cost approximately 100 euros. That price, however, could increase if they put a stronger wire and special cement columns to retain the metal grid. At least 1-2 million euros will need to be allocated for the purchase of thermal cameras and sensors to be placed along the "barrier" that will deter illegal immigrants. According to these estimates, 1-2 operational centres will be built which will receive the signals from the electronic surveillance system and will guide the security forces. It is believed that one of these centres will be located at the police station in Orestiada.