Koumoutsakos: The government to proceed with construction of closed type hosting facilities

The government is determined to proceed with its decision for the construction of closed type hosting facilities for refugees and migrants and this is to the benefit of the islands inhabitants, Alternate Migration Minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos said on Wednesday in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency's radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM.

Regarding the freezing of the decision for land and properties requisitions for a week, he said that although after a long dialogue, the government was determined to speed up procedures, it showed good will and will discuss again with local authorities and communities. However, he cleared out that this does not suspend the decision taken.

Regarding his meeting with the ambassadors of Cyprus, Italy and Spain, he noted: "The frontline member states, ie the states of entry, face the greatest pressure from the migratory flows, so Greece, Spain, Italy, Malta and Cyprus have every reason - I would say it is necessary - to talk and coordinate as they face common challenges and common concerns.".