EVROS — "Our borders will remain secure and inviolable", said Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis in a joint statement with National Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos after their visit to the Evros border region on Friday.

"It is our decision, and this is Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' order, that we convey here today to the Armed Forces and Greek police officers and to local administrators the protection of our borders", Chrisochoidis said.

He underlined that the crisis in Afghanistan has changed the geopolitical sphere and also increased the possibility of migration flows. "We support the democratic rights and the people's freedoms but at the same time we can't allow the instrumentalisation of the possible migration flows that arise," he underlined.

On his part, Panagiotopoulos asserted that "Greece continues to shield against any possible or existing security threat". He said that his visit with Chrisochoidis along Greece's land borders affirmed the "excellent and upgraded operation of the border protection systems, with the valuable contribution of the Greek police and Armed Forces" and the development of cutting-edge surveillance systems.