Rivers

The Turkish government's decision on Wednesday to close its borders with Greece and Bulgaria as a measure against the coronavirus pandemic is seen to mark the end of the three-week migrant crisis in the Evros region that pitted it against Athens and Brussels.

, even though this could soon be reversed. Among the positive takeaways is that the government has not been a passive observer of developments and did not wait for the initiative to be taken by Europe, NATO, the US, Germany or some other power as was the case in the past. The government made swift decisions and implemented a plan to deal with the situation.

As Turkey persists in what is seen as a strategy of escalating tensions, Greece continues to closely monitor Ankara's moves in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean and at the Evros land border, seeking to convey a strong message that there will be no letup in the defense of its sovereign rights and borders.

Greek border units trying to stop crowds of migrants from pushing their way in from Turkey have hit on a new defense against tear gas unleashed on them from the Turkish side of the frontier — monster fans.

Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri were at the Kastanies crossing on the Greek-Turkish border at Evros on Thursday morning to oversee the deployment of dozens of guards from the European border agency.

The Greek Police (ELAS) is concerned about a possible mass push by undocumented migrants at the Turkish land border, assisted by Turkish officials, Kathimerini understands.

ELAS' worries stem from witness accounts by both police and armed forces officers according to which Turkish forces have opened up a road parallel to the banks of the River Evros to help migrants pass.

When Sawsan al-Musawa heard last week that President Tayyip Erdogan had opened Turkey's borders for migrants to cross into Europe,the Syrian mother of four left a refugee camp in eastern Turkey and headed west to the Greek border.

The border post at Ipsala (called Kipi on the Greek side) on the Turkish side reopened late Wednesday after being closed for maintenance and upgrade work since Wednesday morning.

Wednesday's closing of the Turkish border post created long queues of vehicles and trucks on both sides of the border.

The European Commission presented on Wednesday a six-point action plan to support Greece for border policing, that includes financial aid and beefing up Frontex patrols in the Aegean and Evros, the northeastern border with Turkey.

Greek army and police patrols have used tear gas and stun grenades in an attempt to stop thousands of refugees pouring into the country.