»The truth may be bitter, but it must be told« 20 Ministry of Public order cited by UNHCR Greece, in a response on 14 September 2007, to a request of the Group of Lawyers for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants 21 Assertion of the Greek government on 20 December 2006, in response to the CPT report to the government of Greece carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT) from 27 August to 9 September 2005, Strasbourg, 20 December 2006. 22 Independent agency created by law in October 1998 and which has a mandate since 2003 to protect children’s rights. 23 Ombudsman: December 2006 conclusions on the situation of unaccompanied minors in Pagani-Mitilini: report on administrative detention and removal of minors from October 2005 www.synigoros.gr 24 The pink card proves that individuals have submitted an asylum claims which is being processed. It entitles the holder to remain in Greece for 6 months and is renewed at six-month intervals. Holders can also apply for a work permit, if they are not in detention. 25 Prefecture: The political structure of Greece comprises four administrative levels. The state is divided into 13 administrative regions, which are subdivided into 51 prefectures and 4 separate prefecture areas. The prefectures correspond to Germany’s »Landkreise«. 26 Visit of Marianna Tzeferakou, lawyer (Athens), Lawyer Natassa Strachini (Chios) and Karl Kopp (Frankfurt) on 16 July 2007 from 18:00-22:00 27 Natassa Strachini 16 July 2007 Chios 28 In the response of Greece to the CPT on 20 December 2006, there was confirmation a 200-person capacity. 29 See also CPT-report. 30 Response of Greek government to the CPT 20 December 2006 31 Visit of Marianna Tzeferakou (Athens) Karl Kopp (Frankfurt) and Anna Pelizzoni, Maria Xidi and Yiasemo Kehagia, Refugee Solidarity Committee Samos, on the 18 and 19 July 2007 32 A delegation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs visited various detention centres from the 13 -16 June 2007. Report from the LIBE Committee Delegation on the Visit to Greece (Samos and Athens) 33 Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on the visit to Greece (Samos and Athens, 2 July 2007. 34 The individual was released after 92 days. He now lives in Crete and awaiting a decision on his asylum application. 35 Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on the visit to Greece (Samos and Athens, 2 July 2007. 36 On 20 July 2007 Marianna Tzeferakou and Karl Kopp visited the centre as did Efi Latsoudi and Tulina Demeli, two representatives of the Initiative for Solidarity with Refugees in Mitilini 37 Conversation with Marianna Tzeferakou and Karl Kopp with representative of UNHCR Greece Giorgos Tsarbopoulos on Samos 19 July 2007. 38 Law 2926 of 27 June 2001- Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Turkey on cooperation of the Ministry of Public Order of the Hellenic Republic and the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of Turkey on combating crime, especially terrorism, organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and illegal immigration. 39 Law 3030 of 15 July 2002. 40 Ministry of Public Order, cited in South-East Europe Review 2/2006. 41 Ibid. 42 Conversation on 1 August 2007 with Günter Burkhardt and Karl Kopp in Athens. 43 UNHCR Press release 26 July 2007: UNHCR deplores forced return of 135 Iraqis by Turkey. Deportation orders, detention and detention conditions 27