Greece and Turkey Pledge Joint Push Against Migrant Smugglers

Greece's migration minister has said that cooperation with Turkey has sharply cut migrant arrivals, as he met Turkey's interior minister in what both sides called a constructive atmosphere.

Migration Minister Thanos Plevris and Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci agreed that joint work on illegal migration is producing results.

Greece's ministry said arrivals

on the northern and eastern Aegean islands have fallen 65%. It credited coordinated action and border surveillance.

The ministers agreed to expand joint efforts to fully dismantle smuggling networks. They also acknowledged that both countries face complex migration pressure from third regions.

Mr. Plevris told his counterpart that all sides must fully honor what has been agreed. He called that the basic condition for keeping the positive trend.

Mr. Ciftci was in Athens on a high-level visit. He also met Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, who asked Turkey to issue Interpol red notices for Turkish gang members wanted at home and active in Greece.

Turkey is the main departure point for migrants heading to the Greek islands.

Athens has pressed Brussels this year for emergency tools to handle sudden surges, citing past crises at the Evros border.

Mr. Ciftci invited Mr. Chrysochoidis to a trilateral meeting with Bulgaria in Turkey in November.

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Greece's migration minister has said that cooperation with Turkey has sharply cut migrant arrivals, as he met Turkey's interior minister in what both sides called a constructive atmosphere.

Migration Minister Thanos Plevris and Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci agreed that joint work on illegal migration is producing results.

Greece's ministry said arrivals on the northern and eastern Aegean islands have fallen 65%. It credited coordinated action and border surveillance.

The ministers agreed to expand joint efforts to fully dismantle smuggling networks. They also acknowledged that both countries face complex migration pressure from third regions.

Mr. Plevris told his counterpart that all sides must fully honor what has been agreed. He called that the basic condition for keeping the positive trend.

Mr. Ciftci was in Athens on a high-level visit. He also met Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, who asked Turkey to issue Interpol red notices for Turkish gang members wanted at home and active in Greece.

Turkey is the main departure point for migrants heading to the Greek islands.

Athens has pressed Brussels this year for emergency tools to handle sudden surges, citing past crises at the Evros border.

Mr. Ciftci invited Mr. Chrysochoidis to a trilateral meeting with Bulgaria in Turkey in November.

Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr

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Greece,Turkey Pledge Joint Push Against Migrant Smugglers