Greece has turned down a request by Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner to visit Athens for explanations.
The Greek side cleared out that this cannot happen unless measures against Greece are lifted, diplomatic sources on Friday said to ANA-MPA.
Austria has taken a step back after the tough stance of the Greek Foreign Ministry, which on Thursday called the Greek ambassador to Vienna Chryssoula Aliferi for consultations in Athens.
According to sources, Mikl-Leitner wants to visit Greece in order to explain to Alternate Minister of Migration Yannis Mouzalas Austria’s views. Mr. Mouzalas, though, replied that this is not possible with the borders closed, but added that he would inform Prime Minister to take the final decision.
Action to limit the migration flow
In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argues that the major problems which the European Union faces cannot be addressed with attitudes and extra-institutional initiatives that date back to the 19th century, nor can the decisions of state leaders be replaced by the orders of police directors.
Furthermore, the Ministry underlined that the burden of tackling the refugee crisis cannot lie with any one country and that the solution to this complex problem must be based on the principles of solidarity and fairness.
The Austrian Minister of Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner defended the decision to call a meeting with Balkan states and exclude Greece from the process. The Austrian official questioned “if it is really the case that the Greek external border cannot be protected, can it be still a Schengen external border”.
Ten Balkan states meeting in Austria on Wednesday agreed to coordinate action to limit the migration flow along their countries.
Domino effect of national border controls
As well as triggering a domino effect of national border controls limiting the flow of people northwards, their decision has left thousands stranded in Greece, the main gateway for those fleeing upheaval in the Middle East and beyond.
“Unilateral initiatives to solve the refugee crisis and violations of international and European laws by EU member states is a practice which would undermine the very foundations of European unification,” the Greek ministry said.
“Responsibility for dealing with the migration and refugee crisis cannot burden one country.”
The decision to recall the ambassador of Greece from Vienna was a defence tactics against a hostile and aggressive action such as closing the borders, Alternate Foreign Minister Nikos Xydakis on Friday said in statements to SKAI TV.
It is a reasonable, mild and serious reaction on behalf of Athens, he underlined.
He also noted he agrees with the view that Europe is driven by the decisions taken by seven countries to a de facto abolition of the Schengen agreement.
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