ongoing failings and omissions should lead to a greater priority given to the issue by the Greek authorities. 7. Visit to the detention centre in Athens (15.06.2007) The ´Petrou Ralli Special Holding Facility’ in Athens Petrou Rialli is a closed centre and has a capacity of 380 people. The delegation was given a more controlled tour by the police chief of the facility and his staff. Photographs were prohibited. However, it was possible to talk with inmates and interpreters were made available. Generally, the conditions were much cleaner and better than on Samos. Nevertheless several shortcomings have been identified. The centre has separate sections for unaccompanied minors, women and men. The minors are in (small) single cells. Women and men are in bigger cells (separate) with around 4-8 people. Until now detainees are not able to spend time outside their cells due to a lack of guards. So, the detainees spend most (if not all) of the day in their cells. This fact combined with the single cells means that minors are effectively held in solitary confinement. Permission is even required to visit the bathroom. Although denied by the centre officials, inmates did complain about having insufficient (or even no) access to free legal assistance, lawyers and social workers. Also here the lack of information towards the detainees was apparent. Compared to our experiences on Samos, the circumstances in this centre were from a material point of view considerably better. However, a minor behind bars is not in the best interests of the child. It is in conflict with international obligations and should be avoided at all times. More generally, detention should be the exception rather than the rule. Furthermore, the medical staff stated that that the poor material/finishing of the floors actively contributes to the spread of illness and that one medical practitioner and one psychologist dealing with 80 requests from detainees a day is very inadequate. 8. Meeting with the Minister of Public Order, Mr Vyron POLIDORAS (15.06.2007) At the start of the meeting the atmosphere was a little tense. The minister reacted in a blunt way to the statement of our head of delegation that the conditions on Samos are considered deplorable and remarkably 'chastised' her for not being appropriately 'polite'. However, the minister went on by saying that he wishes to discuss the problem of what he phrased as ‘uninvited visitors’ openly. He stressed Greece’s geographical situation. Greece is in the front line, suffering from a force majeure and the pressure is high. He confirmed that the mass influx should be treated as a matter of urgency. On a European level he feels very much supported by Commissioner FRATTINI, however, left alone by the Council. Like Malta, Cyprus, Italy and Spain - Greece is acting as an EU blocking filter and the costs are excessive (for which Greece has not received any EU funding at all). The minister underlined that things have improved over the past years. However, the situation is not perfect. It is an emergency situation and Greece is trying to cope with it as adequately as possible. Pan European solidarity is the only way forward, he said. The minister further explained that the Ministry of IPAD pays all expenses for the reception facilities and staffing, the Ministry of Public Health is involved in health-related issues and the Ministry of Public Order is responsible for the actual guarding and detaining. All the PE 392.010v02-00 EN 8/16 PV\675423EN.doc