Mouzalas presents plan for Elliniko refugee and migrant centre to local mayors
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas on Monday had a meeting with mayors in southeast Athens to outline the ministry’s plans for a refugee and migrant centre at the old Greek Air Force installations in the former airport at Elliniko.
In addition to mayors in the surrounding municipalities, the meeting also included Athens Mayor George Kaminis, the head of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDI) and Marousi Mayor Giorgos Patoulis, the mayor of Galatsi and representatives of the municipalities on the islands of Kos, Rhodes and Samos.
Mouzalas said the refugees and migrants would be given shelter in the abandoned air force hangars on the site, with further details to be hammered out in a meeting on Tuesday with the mayors of Glyfada, Elliniko-Argyroupolis and Alimos.
The meeting also decided on the formation of a committee including representatives of KEDE and the ministry to discuss any issues that may arise.
In statements afterward, Patoulis noted that the plan was currently “not fully accepted by the mayors of the southern sector, while there were also no answers on what will happen in the case of an increased arrival of migrants, and how this will be dealt with.” He suggested that the new areas should be shared out and opposed the use of former Olympic facilities “that Greek people paid dearly for and that we still owe money for.”
Elliniko Mayor Yiannis Konstantatos said he had voiced objections to the plan since people were expecting the Elliniko site to be eventually developed, creating jobs. Glyfada Mayor Giorgos Papanikolaou raised issues of public safety and hygiene, while Alimos Mayor Andreas Kondylis noted that the plan was being promoted “without our knowledge and agreement.”
Kos municipal councillor Nikos Kantarzis highlighted the strong opposition among islanders to the prospect of setting up a hotspot on Kos, saying the local population was in an uproar.