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Greece open to NATO's involvement in monitoring of refugees flows in Aegean under conditions

Xinhua, February 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Greece is open to discuss a possible involvement of NATO in the monitoring of refugees flows from Turkey to Greece under certain conditions, Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassilis said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday to be briefed on the results of her visit to Turkey on Monday, Gerovassilis said during a press briefing in Athens.

The Greek leader stressed that any potential involvement of NATO should strictly concern the Turkish territorial waters and by no means affect Greece's sovereign rights, she underlined.

The idea of joint NATO patrols in the Aegean Sea was unveiled during joint statements made on Monday by Turkish Premier Ahmed Davutoglu and Merkel.

The proposal comes as Greece and Turkey are under increasing pressure from European countries to boost efforts to curb the flow of migrants into Europe and provide more assistance to refugees.

Ahead of a new EU summit on the issue next week Greece has received clear warnings by its European partners lately that it could be temporarily be expelled from the Schengen passport free travel zone unless it fulfils all its obligations on time.

By February 15 Athens should have a total of five hot spots running on the Greek islands and two relocation centers in the mainland. So far only one is operational on Lesvos island, as mayors and local residents protest their construction on old military camps in several cases.

Protesters express fears that the centers will become permanent and criticize the central government for not having prior consultations with local communities.

The municipal council of Kos island decided on late Monday to hold a referendum on the matter. Mayor Yorgos Kyritsis told local media that so far at least 7,000 citizens (out of a total population of about 30,000 people) have co- signed the petition, expressing objections to the creation of the refugees' registration center. Endit