Tsipras disappointed with NATO effectiveness on refugee crisis

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras expressed his discontent to NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg regarding the refugee flows to Greece during a phone contact. According to sources, Tsipras told the head of NATO that the numbers of refugees crossing onto the Greek islands had not been curbed by the presence of NATO ships in the Aegean Sea. Tsipras also expressed his dissatisfaction to Stoltenberg regarding the Turkey’s lack of commitment to implement the EU refugee plan and control its coasts. The Greek PM also contacted German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the same matter, Tuesday requesting the immediate implementation of the EU-Turkey refugee plan agreed upon in the recent EU Summit. Greece, Turkey and the EU agreed to allow NATO ships to patrol the Aegean Sea in an effort to watch over the flow of refugees. But NATO has made it clear that it will only assist in conveying information of refugee flows to Greek or Turkish authorities and not physically intercept refugee boats.