BERLIN – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday referred to economic issues and the emerging migration crisis at Greece’s eastern borders, while addressing the German-Hellenic Economic Forum in Berlin. He stressed that Greece and Europe cannot be blackmailed.

Regarding the economy, Mitsotakis said that Greece was truly on a path of growth, adding that the new problems are making it accelerate, not slow down reforms.

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“The assymetric threat from the east changes the priorities and the health crisis makes our work more difficult. In the last 10 days we have shown that we can defend our national and European sovereignty. Greece and Europe cannot be blackmailed by anyone,” he said.

The support offered by many European countries is tangible proof of European solidarity, said Mitsotakis. “When we needed our friends, dear Angela (Merkel), they gave us both moral and practical support,” he added.

“We are entering a new phase as regards migration. President Erdogan will be in Brussels this afternoon and I consider this development positive. I hope it is the start of a de-escalation of the crisis,” Mitsotakis said.

He pointed out that if the Turkish president wants a review of the EU-Turkey agreement on migration “which he has, himself, effectively demolished,” then he must take the following actions: remove the desperate people in Evros and stop spreading fake news and propaganda.

Mitsotakis suggested that Erdogan should also examine other possible improvements, such as joint patrolling to control the flow of migrants at the Turkish border and pointed out that the return of those who illegally enter Greece should be possible from mainland Greece, as well as the islands. Greece has always recognised and continues to recognise that Turkey has played a crucial role in the management of the refugee issue but this can’t be done using threats and blackmail, he added.

The prime minister then asked for an agreement for the voluntary relocation of children and teenagers from Greece to Europe. “I call on the countries to participate in this tangible proof of solidarity,” he noted.

Greece-Germany are equal partners

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke of Greek-German economic relations as one defined by “equal partners, who will be able to launch investments for the benefit of both sides,” while addressing the German-Hellenic Economic Forum in Berlin on Monday.

He described Greece’s current economic indicators as “extremely positive (…), the highest since the year 2000.”

Mitsotakis also noted that the most important outlook is for the two countries’ cooperation to develop in more dynamic areas, such as green energy, pharmaceutical technology and new methods in waste management.

Concerning German tourism in Greece, Mitsotakis noted that “we want to raise the number of 4.5 million Germans who come to Greece as tourists mostly in the summer,” and mentioned winter tourism as one of Greece’s merits. “We have beautiful mountains too,” he mused.

“As Germany is the honored country at the 2020 Thessaloniki International Fair, we look forward to the presence of Chancellor (Angela Merkel) at the Fair, to have the opportunity to inaugurate it together,” he concluded.