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Sheikh Qassem: We, our allies, the honorable in our nation, our people, and our army will never accept being subservient to the US or 'Israel'
Sheikh Qassem: They must despair, for whatever they do, this people cannot be defeated or broken, and we shall neither fall nor yield
Sheikh Qassem: Threats neither advance nor delay matters, yet the possibility of war exists, and the possibility of war or its absence exists because 'Israel' and the US are weighing their options
Sheikh Qassem: All these threats are simply a form of political pressure after a whole year of efforts proved ineffective
Sheikh Qassem: 'Israel's' 'servants' in Lebanon are few, but they cause problems by obstructing the country’s stability, growth, and liberation alongside the US and 'Israel'
Sheikh Qassem: Weapons block 'Israel’s' project, and anyone seeking disarmament plays into 'Israel’s' hands
Sheikh Qassem: The agreement came because we held fast, empowered by our vision, our faith, our will, our people, our patriotism, and our unwavering attachment to our land
Sheikh Qassem: People of Might Battle was a confrontation by a modest force, incomparable to the enemy's strength, but it was noble in spirit, brimming with courage, resolve, and unwavering faith in victory
Sheikh Qassem: Today, Lebanon is under an Israeli aerial occupation
Sheikh Qassem: The project of "Israel" came crashing into the defenses of the People of Might Battle

EU border agency plans to leave Greece 'inconceivable': Athens

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Jul 2023 18:46
3 Min Read

On June 13, a trawler carrying hundreds of migrants sank off the coast of Greece.

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  • Newly appointed Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairidis speaks during a handover ceremony, in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (AP)
    Newly appointed Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairidis speaks during a handover ceremony, in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (AP)

Greece's new migration minister, Dimitris Kairidis, said on Tuesday that a meeting with EU border agency Frontex is scheduled to be held in the coming days after last month's boat migrant tragedy which saw the deaths of several migrants on June 13.

According to sources, human rights officers at Frontex said that the coastguard may suspend its operations in Greece due to the poor treatment of migrants, which includes illegal pushbacks and other violations of the sort that Greek authorities have denied.

"I consider Frontex leaving our country inconceivable, in the sense that I don't imagine they would shoot their own feet," Kairidis told state TV ERT on Monday.

The minister added that he has seen the minutes of a Frontex board meeting in which the agency's presence in Greece was being debated over the tragedy.

Read more: Titan submersible: Proof of how class, wealth give value to human life

On June 13, a trawler carrying hundreds of migrants sank off the coast of Greece, resulting in an unknown number of deaths. About 104 people were rescued, while 82 bodies were recovered, estimates reveal.

Survivors said that the Greek coastguard intentionally caused the trawler to sink as they attempted to tow the vessel, an allegation that Greece has rejected.

Frontex fundamental rights officer Jonas Grimheden is the leading voice spearheading plans for Frontex's withdrawal, and Karidis said that Athens is ready to "address any complaint."

Read more: Shipwreck survivors' account of events differ from Greek authorities'

Karidis said that he will soon be meeting with representatives from the agency in the near future. 

"We want good cooperation...I take the criticism very seriously," he said.

"Nobody knows exactly what happened," Kairidis added, noting that the criticism of Athens is "unfair" and that the international press had a "tendency to focus on the negative, which sells."

He added that Greece is in favor of forming agreements "so that (the boats) can return safely back to the Libyan coast, sending a message to illegal smugglers and to those tempted to risk their lives."

Greece has already signed migrant worker agreements with Bangladesh and Egypt in order to satisfy a demand for at least 100,000 jobs in the agriculture, tourism, and construction sectors, he noted.

Read more: No. of illegal EU border crossings in 2022 hits 6-year high: Frontex

  • Migrant Crisis
  • Frontex
  • Greece
  • Athens
  • European Union

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