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ΚοτζιάςNo country can totally control its borders, says Kotzias at meeting with German counterpart
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BERLIN (ANA-MPA/F. Karaviti)—The bilateral relations, the refugees issue, the crises in several regions as well as the Cyprus issue were among the issues discussed during a working dinner hosted by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeir to his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias on Saturday evening.
Kotzias rejected again the possibility of Greek and Turkish coast guards common patrols in the Aegean Sea and suggested Frontex to undertake the readmission to Turkey of those migrants not entitled asylum after their identification in Greece.
The real problem of the refugees issue is first of all the conflict in Syria, said Kotzias noting that those counties that set a Schengen issue are mostly those that do not have problems with refugees and migrants. They speak however, as he claimed, in order to not implement EU’s decisions.
Kotzias reiterated that no country can totally control its borders and this was proved and in the case of Germany.
Referring to the Evros fence he said that “today is not something negative. I have humanitarian feelings, I understand the migrants but the capacity and potential of a country is finite. Greece can’t increase the number of refugees it receives”.
The Greek foreign minister said that the top priority to confront the refugees issue is peace in Syria and urged EU to face with special cautiousness the condition in Egypt and warned that a sudden collapse of the regime would have a huge impact to millions of refugees provided that behind Egypt are Sudan, Somalia and other countries.
Kotzias said that Steinmeir expressed a special interest on the course of the Cyprus issue “I explained and we agreed that a just solution is in the interest of the people of Cyprus as well as in the interest of the Greek-Turkish relations, Europe and the peace in the region” he said adding that “there can’t be a solution if the occupation continues”.
Finally, both sides agreed to incorporate in the Greek-German relations and programmes an “Action Plan” which will include the political, economic, cultural and educational relations of the two countries. The plan is expected to be ready by the Greek Foreign Ministry until spring and to be ratified by the two ministers during Steinmeir’s visit to Greece next summer. The establishment of a joint interministerial committee with Germany will also be part of the plan that will mostly focus on the cooperation in the sectors of investments, trade and development programmes “The aim is this procedure to lead to an intergovernmental meeting in 2017” noted Kotzias.