ATHENS – “Once again, Turkey’s tolerance of ruthless traffickers has cost human lives,” Shipping and Island Policy Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis stated regarding the two shipwrecks of migrant boats, one near the island of Kythira and the second near the island of Lesvos, on Thursday.

“As long as the Turkish coast guard does not prevent the traffickers’ action, the more the traffickers will pile desperate people, without any safety measures, into vessels that can’t sail in adverse weather conditons, placing the migrants’ lives at risk,” he said.

“The huge efforts of the members of the Greek Coast Guard, of the Greek Navy, the Greek Airforce, the Fire Brigade, the Greek Police and volunteers helped rescue dozens of people at Kythira and Lesvos on Wednesday. Unfortunately, not all of them. Turkey has an obligation to respect its agreement with the European Union, and as long as it fails to do so, it is placing human lives at risk,” Plakiotakis underlined.