Greek and Turkish migration ministers commit to collaboration against irregular migration; joint statement

Greece and Türkiye pledged to collaborate decisively against irregular migration, Greek Minister of Migration & Asylum Dimitris Kairidis and Turkish Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya said in a brief joint statement after their meeting in Ankara on Monday.

The full statement is as follows:

“Turkish Minister of Interior H.E. Ali Yerlikaya and Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum H. E. Dimitris Kairidis met in Ankara this morning.

Both Ministers agreed to work closely and provide cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling.

They also decided to enhance and increase the cooperation on the fight against irregular migration.”

Επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Άγκυρα

Σήμερα, 23 Οκτωβρίου, κατόπιν προσκλήσεως του Υπουργού Εσωτερικών της Τουρκίας, κ. @AliYerlikaya Yerlikaya, πραγματοποίησα επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Άγκυρα.

Ακολουθεί το Δελτίο Τύπου:

Ο Υπουργός Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου, κ. Δημήτρης Καιρίδης,… pic.twitter.com/P98xQtn5M5

— Dimitris Kairidis – Δημήτρης Καιρίδης (@DimKairidis) October 23, 2023

Talks were held in a positive atmosphere, noted the Greek Ministry of Migration & Asylum in its announcement.

Furthermore, it noted, Yerlikaya presented Türkiye’s progress in combating illegal human trafficking, and expressed his government’s determination to deal with irregular immigration. Kairidis welcomed the progress made in the Evros border region, but drew attention to the number of illegal departures from the Asia Minor coast to the Greek islands in the eastern Aegean.

The Greek ministry also noted that both ministers remain fully committed to solving the problem of illegal trafficking, and proceeded to explore additional levels of cooperation between the two countries, in view of the Greece-Türkiye Supreme Cooperation Council meeting to be held in Thessaloniki on December 7.

Finally, Kairidis invited his Turkish counterpart to Athens, an invitation that was cordially accepted, it was added.

After the two ministers met, official talks were held between the two countries’ delegations that included ambassadors, port authority and police representatives, and other officials. When the talks concluded, the Turkish minister hosted a luncheon or his Greek counterpart and the visiting delegation.