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Kremena Koutsoukou

Poor organization is the reason for Greece to be giving political asylum to some illegal emigrants. The number of foreigner, who entered the country illegally, is unknown.

The Ministry of Civil Protection is creating a center, in which emigrants will live temporarily and will be registered. The center will be built on land provided by the Ministry of Defense. The area is 80 decars and is in Udza region on Lesbos Island. The emigrants, who until now were in the center in Panagi in Mitilini will also be transferred to the new facility. The reasons for the Mitilini center to be closed are the bad conditions and the lack of rooms and with its closure, the end of such shelter is put.

In the new center in Udza illegal aliens will be registered, will receive medical assistance and will eventually be distributed according to different category - children, adults applying for political asylum, persons in need of additional medical assistance and others who will be sent back to their home countries. Illegal emigrants in Greece are too many and the creation of centers, where they can be registered will help deal with the problem. Because until now illegal emigrants were not categorized and registered, their true number is unknown. This is also the reason for the low percentage of given political asylum – only 0.2%, in comparison to 30-40% in other European countries like Italy for example.

Deputy Minister of Civil Defense Spyros Vouyas is expecting the center to be done by summer 2010. The management of the project is undertaken by the Ministry and funds are provided by the European Fund for External Borders - €13 million will be provided for the upcoming year. During the period the center in Lesbos is being built, the Ministry of Civil Defense is planning to rent a hotel in the region, in which illegal emigrants can stay.