Refugee crisis

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke in Greek after his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias in Athens on Friday, by stating that the US supports Greece.

Talking to reporters in Antalya on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made an important warning to European nations: No one should mix up the terrorists that staged the Paris attacks and the people seeking refuge in Europe fleeing the attacks by the very same groups back in their homeland.

Alternate Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas gave a press conference on Sunday on migration. He addressed the need for more effective controls in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon that need to be carried out so as to have more accurate registration and documentation of refugees.

World leaders attending the G20 meeting in Turkey to discuss the refugee crisis on European security held a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorists attacks in Paris that left 129 dead and hundreds injured.

Aid to Syria's millions of refugees must "go beyond relief" and help them make a living close to home, a top U.N. official said Nov. 8, as key international decision-makers gathered to find a new approach to the Syria refugee crisis.

The European Union's offer of funds to Turkey as part of a plan to deal with the refugee crisis should have been made a long time ago, European Parliament Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri has told Anadolu Agency.

"Turkey should have been given support much earlier when it comes to financially coping with providing for these 2.5 million refugees," Piri said. "[It] is not enough."

The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, talked to protothema.gr and said that he is in favor of linking the refugee crisis to deficits and costs arising from it.

The refugee crisis and foreclosures were linked by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in a press conference following his meeting with EP President Martin Schulz on Wednesday. “If we are forced to offer shelter, even temporarily for refugees, then it cannot be possible for us to insist on foreclosures for primary residences in Greece,” he stressed.

The refugee crisis and energy issues dominated discussions between Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto, at the ministry.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, the two ministers agreed that a political solution for the war in Syria is needed, in order to tackle the root of the problem and rebuild a new country.

The spokeswoman of the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Sawsan Chebli, referred to the “very good talks” with the Greek leadership and added that Greece should be actively supported on the refugees issue.