Greece seeks to evacuate Piraeus port by Easter, official says
The port of Piraeus, which currently shelters 4,500 migrants and refugees, will be evacuated by Easter, George Kyritsis, a spokesman for migration coordinators in the Greek government has said, while condemning the use of force by police in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Sunday.
Speaking to Mega TV on Monday, the leftist official said that a new migrant reception facility near Skaramangas shipyards was ready to accommodate 800 people.
“Easter is our target date,” he said.
On the same interview, Kyritsis repeated his criticism of FYROM’s reaction on Sunday when a group of migrants and refugees tried to cross the border fence between the two countries. Dozens were wounded after FYROM police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to stop the crowds.
He said the use of force was “unjustifiable.”
“The refugee issue is not a bilateral issue between Greece and FYROM or between Greece and Turkey. It is a process in which all European countries are involved. All sides must keep their cool,” he said.
