Giorgos Koumoutsakos

Ankara sends out mixed messages

Officials in Athens are trying to make sense of what they see as erratic behavior emanating from Ankara, which on the one hand is requesting a moratorium on military exercises in the Aegean due to the coronavirus pandemic, and on the other is continuing its tactic of low-level tensions regarding the Greek islands.

Switzerland to take in 22 unaccompanied minors, offer economic aid

Switzerland has agreed to take in 22 unaccompanied migrant children from Greece, it was announced Thursday following a telephone conversation between Alternate Minister of Migration and Asylum Giorgos Koumoutsakos and his Swiss counterpart Mario Gattiker.
Switzerland said it will also contribute 1.1 million Swiss francs to support Greece in managing the migrant/refugee crisis.

Greece takes delivery of more masks from China

Alternate Migration Minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos (r) and China's Ambassador to Greece Zhang Qiyue, both wearing face masks, do an elbow bump on Wednesday during the handover at the ministry of 20,000 surgical masks, a donation from the Chinese government to Greece, specifically destined for use at the migrant reception centers on the islands of the eastern Aegean where excessive overcrowding h

China donates 20,000 masks to Greek migrant reception centers

China will donate 20,000 masks to help stem the spread of coronavirus at migrant reception centers on the Greek islands, it was announced Tuesday.

The initiative was finalized Tuesday following a phone call between Alternate Migration and Asylum Minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos and China Ambassador to Greece, Zhang Qiyue.

Austria to send Greece 181 containers to house asylum seekers, provide healthcare amid pandemic

The Austrian government has agreed to send Greece 181 containers to be used for the accommodation of migrants and refugees and as mobile healthcare facilities, following a request by Athens, according to the ministry of migration on Thursday.

Greece has had to place two camps on lockdown after 21 migrants tested positive for Covid-19.

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