Turkey-Greece: New dispute with Erdogan?

Athens speaks of “1000 migrants a day”

Created: 06/28/2022, 05:41

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

According to Greece, Turkey is once again exploiting migrants at the border.

Athens now wants to extend a border fence as a measure.

Munich/Athens — The conflict between Turkey and Greece is not limited to the islands in the Aegean or to tensions over oil reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

With regard to these regions, war threats have recently come from Turkey.

Another major problem between the neighbors is the influx of illegal migrants from Turkey to Greece.

Athens repeatedly accuses the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of using illegal refugees as a means of pressure against Europe and of exploiting the refugee crisis.

These allegations are now being raised again.

Greece gave specific figures on migrants from Turkey and announced plans to extend a border fence.

Turkey-Greece: Migrants still flock to border - 'up to 1000 a day'

During the 2015 refugee crisis, Greece was faced with an unprecedented flow of refugees mainly from Syria.

The migrants were aiming to get to Greece via Turkey and from there to other European countries.

In recent years there have been repeated attempts to cross the Greek border.

This represents a critical point of contention in Turkish-Greek relations, as Athens accuses Ankara of using refugees as weapons.

According to the Greek Minister of Migration, Notis Mitaraschi, who told the Greek radio station

, up to 1,000 illegal migrants from Turkey are still trying to get to Greece every day - probably without success.

Although this is higher than last year, it is also significantly lower than in 2020 and the years before.

Erdogan's appeal to Athens: "Open the gates"

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Turkey-Greece: Athens extends fence by 80 kilometers - "Ankara exploits migrants"

Nevertheless, the government of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis plans to significantly increase security measures at the Turkish border in order to be prepared for a possible new influx of refugees.

Greece has sent hundreds of additional border guards to the area in recent weeks, according to the US state international broadcaster Voice of America (VOA).

Athens holds Ankara responsible for the refugee movements.

"There is a clear attempt by Turkey to use migrants for a crisis with Greece," VOA quoted Greek Migration Minister Mitaraschi as saying.

Greece probably fears that the hundreds of border guards will not be enough to withstand a new wave of migrants.

The Greek government wants to triple the existing border fence, as reported by VOA, citing Mitaraschi.

A further 80 kilometers are to be added to the 40-kilometer barbed wire fence.

Turkey-Greece: Despite strong tensions - from time to time apparently also cooperation

Despite the allegations against Ankara, Mitaraschi surprisingly emphasized to Parapolitika

with Turkey, which takes place from time to time.

Turkey's actions are always changing and not stable, the Greek minister explained: "There are times when the cooperation between the Greek and Turkish coastguards is very good and they help us to prevent illegal departures from Turkey." However, due to the tensions in the Aegean, the dispute over refugees could also escalate again.