Closed centers on islands moving ahead as planned

Despite vehement local opposition to the construction of new closed centers on the Aegean islands and Tuesday's clashes between residents and riot police, the government insists it does not intend to back down from its decision to go ahead with the plan.

"We are consistent with our campaign commitments, we are implementing what we promised: closed centers, speeding up asylum procedures, border protection," a government official told Kathimerini on Tuesday. 

With the recent surge in migrant flows from the Turkish coast, the government's preferred solution is the establishment of closed centers in remote areas of Lesvos, Chios and Samos, which it says will help it better control the situation and facilitate the returns of asylum seekers in an organized matter.

"The dialogue [with island authorities] cannot continue indefinitely, especially when the problem is so...