Title: Turkey and Greece Agree to Enhance Cooperation in Managing Irregular Migration
According to reports, Turkey's interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, conveyed to three Greek government ministers that Turkey intends to replicate the success of stemming the migration flow on land by also taking measures to stop the flow of migrants at sea.
The discussion took place during Ali Yerlikaya's meeting with Dimitris Kairidis, Minister of Migration and Asylum, Ioannis Oikonomou, Minister of Citizen Protection, and Christos Stylianides, Minister of Shipping, as part of the 5th Greece-Turkey High Level Cooperation Council. The atmosphere of the meeting was described as highly positive.
Both sides agreed verbally to establish regular visits between the shipping and interior ministers of both countries. The first visit is planned for Stylianides to Ankara in early 2024. These visits will serve as a platform to assess and review events in the Aegean Sea concerning the management of irregular migration.
Furthermore, the heads of the Greek and Turkish coast guards participated in the meeting and agreed to create a 24-hour hotline. This hotline will facilitate direct communication between the coast guards, ensuring efficient cooperation in managing maritime border security.
Overall, this development highlights the commitment of both Turkey and Greece to strengthen cooperation in tackling irregular migration, particularly in the maritime domain.
