Alt. Migration Minister Mouzalas on refugees issue: The Geneva Treaty is the only point of view

Mouzalas noted that the success is that Europe recognised the problem as a European one. "The refugees issue is a European problem that occurs in Greece and Europe must heal its side-effects," he said adding that a major change is that Europe approved 160,000 relocations and agreed to offer financial and technical assistance.
The government is also trying to pass another significant proposal on the relocation from third countries. The refugees instead of coming to Greece or Italy or Serbia and from there to leave for other European countries, Europe should go to Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon where the first refugees camps are and to indentify the refugees and choose those that fulfill the requirements for relocation. This would make the refugees feel safer, they will not have to cross the Aegean. This cancels the traffickers and reduces the pressure in the European countries and is probably cheaper.
Referring to Greece's obligations, Mouzalas said that the cooperation with Frontex and other European institutions is going very well however, we are 'behind' in our obligations for the 'hot spots' (place where a refugee is identified and proceeds to the relocation). We were taken by surprise, said Mouzalas but we are moving fast. We will tell Europe and now in Luxembourg that in a couple of months the hot spots will be in full operation, he added.
Mouzalas made clear that we will not turn the country into a huge refugees camp and called on the democratic parties to choose between what the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker says and what other countries propose for the use of dogs, teargas and detained refugees. "It lies on you to decide what you will opt for," he said addressing the opposition parties in parliament.
The minister said that provided that 85 pct of the inflows are refugees (65 pct from Syria, 15 pct from Afghanistan and Eritrea) there are not points of view, legally and ethically, there is only one: The Geneva Treaty that states that the refugees and not pushed back but a humanitarian corridor opens. The European Law and the EU acquis that says that we must offer hospitality to the refugees. Under this pressure Europe is changing from a Europe-fortress that it was two years ago, to a receiving Europe.