Evros

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.

Greece is taking all necessary measures to beef up security along the Evros border, Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said Wednesday, amid reports of a possible surge in migrants seeking to cross into the European Union from Turkey.

Greece's extension of the fence along the country's northeastern border with Turkey will proceed as planned and will be completed, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told Kathimerini in an interview a few days after an exchange of demarches with Ankara over activities in an area of the southern part of the Evros River.

The extension of the border fence across the Evros River will continue and will be completed, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias insisted to Kathimerini a few days after a series of demarches were exchanged between Greece and Turkey regarding a patch in the river's southern part.

Greece has a right to extend a fence at the border with Turkey in the northeastern region of Evros to avoid a repeat of the tensions last March when thousands of migrants attempted to scale the fence and enter into EU soil.

An ongoing dispute between Greece and Turkey regarding a small pocket of land on the northeastern Evros River border between the two countries is "technical" in nature and should not be turned into an "issue," the Turkish ambassador in Athens, Burak Ozugergin, has reportedly said.

The Foreign Ministry on Saturday dismissed as "fake news" reports that Turkish soldiers have "invaded and occupied" a patch of Greek land in the northeastern Evros border area.

"There is no foreign force on Greek territory," the ministry said in a statement, responding to reports in British and other media.

Athens has lodged a demarche with Ankara over its presentation of a section of Greek territory in the southern Evros border region as Turkish, diplomatic sources said on Friday.

The decision was taken by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

Athens is reportedly considering whether to lodge a demarche with Ankara over its presentation of a section of Greek territory in the Evros border region as Turkish.