Roundup: Greek gov't reassures no reason to worry after Brussels attacks, experts appear skeptical

The Greek government reassured there was no reason the Greek people should worry that the country may also become a target of terrorist acts following Tuesday's deadly explosions in Brussels. However, Greek leading experts on international relations appeared skeptical.

"There is no reason for concern in Greece. Our country is not a target for historic reasons, but we must be vigilant," deputy public order minister Nikos Toskas told local SKAI TV on Tuesday evening, referring to the ongoing refugee crisis.

The official underlined that Greek police were on alert after the attacks in Belgium and all necessary security measures were being implemented. Surveillance of airports, ports, the subway, and other mass transport services, as well as foreign embassies and other potential targets have been enhanced.

Nevertheless, Toskas stressed there was no information indicating that a terrorist cell may be organizing an attack in Greece.

But speaking to local ANT1 TV on Wednesday, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said it was reasonable that all Europeans should be concerned.

The fact that two of the terrorists who participated in the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015 had been registered as refugees in Greece in the autumn before continuing their trip to western Europe had raised concerns regarding the management of refugee flows into Europe.

No such link has been unveiled concerning Tuesday's tragedy, according to Greek police sources. Nevertheless, Greek professors expressed concerns about the repercussions in Greece.

In the event any connection to Greece emerges, Konstantinos Filis, research director at the Institute of International Relations, fears that Greece may face a two-year expulsion from the European passport-free Schengen zone in May.

After the border closed down along the Balkan route to central Europe in February, some 50,000 people have been trapped in Greece and several thousand will most likely remain in the country for up to two years.

Ioannis Mazis, professor of the University of Athens, also noted that so far Greece was considered safe in comparison to other countries, because Greeks are not involved in military operations in the Middle East against the Islamic State.

However, the picture is changing after the border closures, Mazis stressed during an interview with Athens municipal radio 9.84 FM on Wednesday.

The professor explained that the dangers increased for Greece as the country is no longer a transit country of radicals towards the rest of Europe. "As the Greek route is now closed and useless, Greece could become a target of similar terrorism attacks in the future," Mazis warned. Endit