officer.38 Furthermore, we would like to inform you that the Greek police officers and the staff of the aforementioned Agency that are operating in the region of Evros to interdict the entry of illegal migrants in the Greek territory, they basically use technological equipment that transmit light and sound signals and inform the authorities of the neighboring country about the presence of persons close to the Greek-Turkish border in order to act immediately and arrest them before entering in our country.’39 The Minister for Shipping and of the Aegean, Mr. Varvitsiotis, while on an official visit to Mytilene (Lesvos), refused to answer to the allegations concerning push-backs.40 Moreover, on various occasions he has expressed the government’s position concerning people arriving by boat, and specifically Syrian refugees: ‘Our dogma does not change. That is, dissuading migrants from illegally entering our country. I realize the human dimension of these people, who are uprooted from their countries due to a war or another humanitarian crisis, but Greece cannot become Europe’s ‘deposit’. Our country is financially exhausted and cannot integrate other migrants in its social network. This is our clear will and based on it, our Coastguard is and will be vigilant for the more efficient guarding of our sea borders.’41 38 | In the meantime Frontex has registered through its Serious Incident Reporting (SIR) mechanism since 2012 (and until August 2013) eight cases of alleged push-backs. They informed the Greek authorities about the allegations, explains a journalist in an article for Austrian ORF: ‘Frontex wrote three strongly worded letters to the Greek authorities requesting information on these allegations. The response received from the authorities stated that no such practices had taken place.’ The Greek police though didn’t confirm this information towards the journalist: ‘Until today no case of a push-back of a foreigner, who illegally tried to cross the Greek-Turkish border was reported, neither by a Greek officer nor by a Frontex officer.’ [translation from German to English by PRO ASYL] Source: Chrissi Wilkens ORF 11.9.13. Available at: http://fm4.orf.at/stories/1724601/ 39 | Answer (9.8.13) to a parliamentary question (18.7.13) given by the competent ministers of Shipping and of the Aegean and Citizens Protection and Public Order: Reported push-backs of illegal migrants and refugees who enter in the country. Accountability, human rights protection, funds for granting international protection. Available at: www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/67715b2c-ec81-4f0c-ad6a-476a34d732bd/8174770.pdf 40 | The Minister was in Mytilene for three days, to film a TV program but considered it useless publicly answering to issues concerning the current situation in the port of Mytilene’. See: Efimerida ton Syntakton, Show of Minister Varvitsiotis. Available at: http://www.efsyn.gr/?p=103255 ; The Minister Varvitsiotis, during the TV program “Autopsia” stated among others (1:21:00): “The local communities cooperate with the police and the coastguard, demonstrating a huge humanity which represents us. And they don’t represent us reports such as the one of Amnesty International or of some other malicious who are funded, only to report bad incidents. There are bad incidents, we are trying to limit them. Our basic transmission though, it’s a transmission of humanity”. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fElr2nmpFuM#t=348 41 | Interview (31st of August 2013) for the Lesbian newspaper ‘Empros’. Available at: http://www.emprosnet.gr/article/49146-o-ypoyrgos-naytilias-kai-aigaioy-miltiadis-varvitsiotis-mila-sto-e 6 | eUROPE’S pRESSURE oN gREECE The Head of the Hellenic Coastguard, Vice Admiral Dimitrios Bantias, stated that ‘the Greek coastguard has the right to prohibit the entry of illegal migrants, since they are coming uninvited and without documents, emphasizing that those arriving are not always refugees as is the case now with Syrians.’42 The results of the aforementioned policies and practices are, in essence, confirmed once again by the Minister for Public Order and Citizens Protection Nikos Dendias: ‘The year that has passed, 25.000 illegal migrants were deported from Greece, while 50.000 were interdicted. Imagine what would have happened if we let every year in Greece - like in the previous years – 75.000 more illegals in the Greek society. For how long could we bear it?’43 42 | Fifth European Coastguard Functions Forum. Available at: http://www.chiosnews.com/cn1392013902380.asp 43 | Minister Dendias preannounces an increase in the policing measures. Available at: http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/ayksisi-tis-astynomeysis-proanaggellei-o-dendias eUROPE’S pRESSURE oN gREECE | 7