Officers of the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Police were thanked by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit to Lesvos for their contribution to protecting the country’s maritime borders.
The Prime Minister boarded the boats of the Greek Navy in the port of Mytilene, communicated by radio with the crew of a patrol boat, visited one of the mobile border monitoring stations of the police, and spoke about the symbolism of his visit today.
“I had talked to the Chief of the Coast Guard, Mr. Kliaris, and I told him that I want to be here in Mytilene, personally, to say a big thank you. And know that you enjoy not only our appreciation but also our practical support,” said Mitsotakis.
Mitsotakis made a special reference to the National Integrated Surveillance System (ESOTHE) of Greece’s maritime borders.
He stated: “It will enable us to have 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a complete picture of what happens at our sea borders so that we can intervene quickly and effectively.”
“The women and men of the Coast Guard make us all extremely proud. So on behalf of all Greeks, to all women, to all men of the Coast Guard, a very, very big thank you and have a good year, better than the one that leaves us,” underlined Mitsotakis.
“In 2020, we guarded our borders at Evros, we guarded our borders at sea. The Coast Guard, in good cooperation with the Navy, with the Armed Forces, performed their duties,” the Prime Minister continued to say.
“And of course this is reflected in the numbers of illegal immigrant arrivals, having decreased by more than 80% in 2020, and in fact our islands have been decongested from the big problem they faced a year ago,” Mitsotakis added.