Podcasts
05/03/2020
Greece caught between migrants and local riots as Turkey opens its borders
Turkey’s decision to open its borders to refugees and migrants seeking entry to Europe via Greece came as Greece was already struggling to control violent riots in the Aegean against plans to build refugee centres in Lesbos and Chios. Greece has decided to house refugees and migrants on these tiny islands despite strong opposition and protests by locals, some of whom have resorted to armed attacks on Greek police reinforcements being sent from Athens to quell the riots.
While the Aegean islanders want a more fair, nationwide distribution of refugees, the authorities in Athens are determined to stop them from settling on the mainland, particularly the country’s capital where the majority of Greeks reside and where the political ramifications of accepting tens of thousands of refugees will be felt most. A lack of support from other European nations to take on some of the burden doesn’t help either.
Yet, these European nations do not hold back their criticism of Athens when it comes to their treatment of migrants and refugees, or even its heavy-handed tactics in silencing protests against refugee centres. With Athens torn between its obligations to human rights and the mood of its people, it’s struggling more than ever to maintain its image as a stable and reliable partner in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece has long been a preferred partner for the European Union in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey has been asserting its own maritime claims on what Greece deems to be its own continental shelf following Ankara’s deal with Libya’s UN-backed government in Tripoli back in December. But Greece has failed to generate enough international support to oust Turkish forces from the Libyan capital, which now hosts Turkish troops who have come to the aid of the besieged government.
This is leading to the development of a new status quo in the region, giving Turkey the upper-hand against Greece, and by contributing to the spread of chaos in Greece by opening its borders at such a desperate time for Athens, Turkey is placing Greek violations of human rights in regards to its treatment of refugees under the spotlight and consequently presenting itself as a more stable player in the region, not to mention reminding the West of its leverage over European politics.
Radio EastMed’s Editor-in-Chief Ertan Karpazli has more.
To listen to the full podcast rounding up all the major events of February 2020 in the Eastern Mediterranean, please visit the following link: https://youtu.be/fXTJli_iW6g
While the Aegean islanders want a more fair, nationwide distribution of refugees, the authorities in Athens are determined to stop them from settling on the mainland, particularly the country’s capital where the majority of Greeks reside and where the political ramifications of accepting tens of thousands of refugees will be felt most. A lack of support from other European nations to take on some of the burden doesn’t help either.
Yet, these European nations do not hold back their criticism of Athens when it comes to their treatment of migrants and refugees, or even its heavy-handed tactics in silencing protests against refugee centres. With Athens torn between its obligations to human rights and the mood of its people, it’s struggling more than ever to maintain its image as a stable and reliable partner in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece has long been a preferred partner for the European Union in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey has been asserting its own maritime claims on what Greece deems to be its own continental shelf following Ankara’s deal with Libya’s UN-backed government in Tripoli back in December. But Greece has failed to generate enough international support to oust Turkish forces from the Libyan capital, which now hosts Turkish troops who have come to the aid of the besieged government.
This is leading to the development of a new status quo in the region, giving Turkey the upper-hand against Greece, and by contributing to the spread of chaos in Greece by opening its borders at such a desperate time for Athens, Turkey is placing Greek violations of human rights in regards to its treatment of refugees under the spotlight and consequently presenting itself as a more stable player in the region, not to mention reminding the West of its leverage over European politics.
Radio EastMed’s Editor-in-Chief Ertan Karpazli has more.
To listen to the full podcast rounding up all the major events of February 2020 in the Eastern Mediterranean, please visit the following link: https://youtu.be/fXTJli_iW6g
