ATHENS - Construction of a "new segment of wall, 35-km-long, will begin immediately" at the border between Greece and Turkey, the Greek minister for the protection of the citizen (the equivalent of the interior minister) Takis Theodorikakos, has told broadcaster Skai. "The extension of the fence along the Evros river, aimed at discouraging irregular migrants, is a matter of security not only for Greece but also for Europe", added the minister, who will host on Saturday in the city of Alexandroupolis, in the Thrace region, the ambassadors of 27 member States of the European Union, of the United Kingdom and countries associated to the Schengen Treaty with the objective of informing them on the situation in the area.
"All Europeans must be fully aware of how acute and relevant the problem is and the hard work undertaken by Greek police", stressed the minister, recalling that last year in the Evros region, 260,000 irregular migrants were prevented from crossing, and over 1,450 traffickers were arrested. On Friday, police in Thessaloniki announced the arrest of seven people and the "dismantling of a migrant trafficking network" from Turkey to Greece active since last August, with a turnover of 300,000 euros.
The wall to be completed soon will be an addition to the existing 40-km-long wall and is part of a plan announced by the Greek government to erect a barrier that will be 140-km-long along the border with Turkey, mainly designed by the Evros river.
