We were taken by surprise, says PM Tsipras on the refugees issue

"We must join forces to focus on the people, our duty and the obligation to offer whatever possible to those in need," he stressed.

The premier explained that he invited all the representatives of the local authorities as well as Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos because, as he said, the problem has a humanitarian dimension and "the State and the Church must cooperate to confront the problems and this is probably the only way that may bring results."

He stressed that we must seeka solution not only on national but also on European level because we all understand that no local society can handle such a big burden without support.

"I called you here today to brief you on the government's initiatives, the claims at European level and also to be informed on the difficulties you are facing on the islands. We must see how we will be able to facilitate and to deal with the problems, to circumvent bureaucracies and to see how we will succeed in being effective as regards our obligation to show the humanitarian face of Europe, of Greece and of our people to the whole of Europe," said Tsipras.

Concluding, the Greek premier admitted that the "State was taken by surprise and therefore you are the ones that bore the heavy burden on your shoulders. However, the reason of this meeting is to see how we can do whatever possible within our powers because we are in the midst of a financial crisis, a crisis within the crisis, and we must coordinate our forces on a common target."