Kastanies

In the wake of Germany's decision to reintroduce controls at its external borders, the Hellenic Police (ELAS) is updating its plan for the protection of the land borders between Greece and Turkey on the Evros River. 

Although Turkey's leadership is persisting with its strong rhetoric aimed at Greece regarding the migration issue, the facts on the ground indicate a tendency toward cooperation.

Greece's police minister on Oct. 10 said 250 additional guards would be deployed on the country's land border with Turkey, where thousands of asylum-seekers tried to enter last year.

Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis was on Wednesday expected to carry out an inspection along the country's land border with Turkey amid reports that Greek police decided to strengthen the area's defenses with the mobilization of additional forces.

Anticipating a possible surge in migrants from the Turkish side of Greece's northeastern border, the leadership of the Hellenic Police (ELAS) has decided to strengthen the area's defenses with the mobilization of additional forces.

Greek Police (ELAS) has decided to send an additional 14 riot police units at the country's northeastern border with Turkey, to assist the existing police force and army, Kathimerini understands.

Despite Turkey's decision to evacuate the refugee camp at the Kastanies border crossing last month, tensions remain in the Evros River region as indicated by two incidents on Thursday night.

The Hellenic Coast Guard has increased the number of patrols along Greece's eastern sea border amid reports that refugees and migrants are moving en masse by bus from inland camps in Turkey to the coast opposite the Greek islands of Chios, Lesvos and Kos, stoking fears of a repeat of what happened in February at the Evros land border and in the eastern Aegean.

Greek authorities have found out that numerous migrants in Turkey have been concentrating in the country's western seaside towns, as if ready to cross into neighboring Greece's islands in the Aegean Sea.

Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis on Monday joined his Defense counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos on a visit to the Greek-Turkish border area of Evros, where they stressed that despite the departure of thousands of migrants and refugees from the Kastanies crossing, the "state of emergency" is not over.