Stop crime of refugees drowning in Aegean, says Greek PM

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reiterated a plea for stronger cooperation between EU partners and Turkey without delay to put an end to the drowning of refugees in the Aegean Sea during a visit to Lesvos island on Thursday with European Parliament President Martin Schulz.

The island has received half of the about 600,000 refugees that have reached Greece this year from neighboring Turkey.

The two leaders were briefed on efforts to rescue and provide aid to people who have fled war-torn regions such as Syria.

"What is happening in the Aegean is a crime. We must put an end to this crime," Tsipras said after visiting a reception and registration center and witnessing with the German official a boat carrying refugees reaching the island's shores.

The Greek leader lambasted trafficking rings operating on the other side of the Aegean Sea exploiting desperate people and sending them out in rough seas in overcrowded small boats. Hundreds have lost their lives during the journey.

Greek Coast Guard on Thursday retrieved the body of a child in an incident off Kos island and rescued 10 people.

Tsipras urged for an immediate agreement with Turkey to crack down on smugglers and establish reception and registration centers there so that asylum seekers can be relocated to European countries from Turkey instead of Greece and people stop risking their lives to cross over the Aegean.

He dismissed the idea of pulling down a fence erected in recent years on the northern borderline with Turkey at Evros region that has directed the refugee flow via the Aegean. He said it was unrealistic because the zone was ridden with landmines.

The comment was a response to a protest of activists wearing life jackets who were chanting slogans in favor of the demolition of the fence.

For his part, Schulz backed Greece's request for more European assistance in dealing with the refugee crisis while struggling to cope with an acute debt crisis.

"Greece is facing the most difficult challenge since World War II amid the economic and refugee crisis and the Stability Pact provides for special flexibility in case of emergency situations," Schulz told Greek national news agency AMNA.

"I am grateful to Greek national authorities and international organizations for the work done here," he told media at the end of the visit to Lesvos.

The two officials were greeted with black flags raised at the City Hall and across the island in protest of the inadequate response of Europe so far and in remembrance of the people who have drowned off Lesvos coasts.

On Wednesday, the municipality of Lesvos called a three-day period of mourning the victims, as open squares and the port were crowded with more than 15,000 refugees who have been registered but can not leave the island due to a strike of seamen protesting bailout measures since Monday.

Under a plan agreed with EU partners, Greece should finish by January the establishment of "hot spots" to accommodate up to 20,000 refugees for a short time as they wait for official relocation to other European countries. Endit