Athens Mayor and Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) chairman Nikitas Kaklamanis made the following statement in reply to a question on the matter of safety in the city of Athens:

“The matter of citizen safety in every city, including Athens, is a responsibility that lies with the central government. The high concentration of illegal immigrants in the city is one factor which causes citizens of Athens to feel insecure. In surpassing its limits, responsibilities and financial capabilities, the Municipality is doing the best it can to ensure their social integration in the city’s urban fabric. However, it possesses no capability or competence either to limit their entry into Greece or to stamp out criminality which may relate to uncontrolled immigration. On the contrary, the provision of free meals, together with the Church, to 4,000 people both Greeks and foreign nationals every day, contributes to the minimization of petty crime. Considering the economic crisis, the matter of uncontrolled immigration will soon become a national problem and the government and political parties must find a common way to deal with the problem now because tomorrow will be too late. Perhaps a meeting presided over by the President of the Republic is now imperative. Finally, as Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis informed me, Turkey remains the main entry point for illegal immigrants.

I call on the government to make it absolutely clear to the European Union that either Turkey complies with European Law and fulfils its international obligations on this matter or Greece, and the rest of Europe, will no longer support the neighbouring country’s EU accession course. The problem needs to be seriously addressed at its source (illegal entry) rather than with suppressive measures that produce uncertain results.”