Govt on illegal migrant issue

   

    Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros reiterated on Monday that last week Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis had addressed a letter on the illegal migration problem to the prime minister of the Czech Republic, currently holding the EU Presidency, insisting that a special chapter on the issue be included in the next European Council meeting.

    Antonaros stated that "the PM intends to stress the growing pressures faced by Greece," as the European Union's southeastern "gatekeeper" from the constantly increasing numbers of illegal migrants crossing its borders at a scheduled EU summit in Brussels.

    He underlined that the adoption of immediate measures is necessary as mentioned in the prime minister's letter and pointed out that moves have been made to this end since June 2004 both by the prime minister and by the ministries of foreign affairs and interior aimed at making clear the essence of the problem faced by the country.

    "In recent months the problem is becoming apparent in countries that are far away and its special characteristics are hard to explain to them," he added.

    On the criticism made as regards alleged "concentration camps" and the reaction of local communities to the presence of illegal migrants, Antonaros spoke of incorrectly used expressions.

    "The country's economy and society have reached their limits," he said, adding that "like many other countries it is only natural to have illegal migrant reception centres set up."

    He reminded that two and a half years ago Greece was being criticized by foreign agencies for not having such reception centres.