The work carried out by the men and women of the Coast Guard, demonstrating a high level of professionalism, a sense of responsibility and patriotism in the face of the modern challenges they are called upon to manage on a daily basis, was praised by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, following a series of meetings held in Heraklion, as part of his two-day tour of Crete.
Kikilias stressed that the aim is to create the appropriate conditions and prerequisites in order to deal with the migration flows to Crete through the organization and cooperation of all relevant agencies. In this context, he referred to the transfer – following an agreement between the Chief of the Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Christos Kontoruchas, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – of two high-ranking officers of the Coast Guard in Libya, as well as the permanent presence of an officer at the Consulate in order to cooperate with the Libyan Coast Guard and the respective service agents. “We are trying to cooperate so that we can stop a first wave of migratory flows on their shores with their own forces, their own Coast Guard. The second part has to do with the field of operations, which here in Crete is complex and difficult. It is not the 2-7 nautical miles that are in the eastern Aegean, between our islands and the coast of Turkey. Here it is the sea, the open sea, it is 70 to 100 nautical miles, which makes operations involving search and rescue much more difficult. And for this, I want to congratulate once again the tremendous effort that our port officers are making here under these adverse conditions, in order to protect our maritime borders and save human lives.”
As for the port of Heraklion, he stressed that it is one of the most important and crucial ports in the country, with a crucial role for the local community, tourism and the national economy. As he stated: “Last year – as I was informed by the port director – more than 2,600,000 travellers moved through the island – in coastal shipping and cruise – without any problems, with organisation and with a high level of professionalism. Safety issues are above all for us. Therefore, also this year the officers of the Coast Guard will continue the controls with undiminished intensity, with organization and with professionalism on all ships and vessels, from passenger and tourist vessels to sailing boats and commercial yachts. Crete has a decisive role in the country’s GDP, so it is our top priority and we are trying, each from our own perspective, we from the perspective of the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Shipping, to support this effort.”
The Minister, as part of his tour of Crete, visited the Central Port Authority of Heraklion, where he was briefed by the Central Port Authority, Captain of the Coast Guard. Tsobani Nikolaos, on issues relating to the activity and operation of the Port Authority and discussed with the staff of the Port Authority, while he also held a meeting with the Port Masters of Agios Nikolaos, Commander L.S. Pattakos Konstantinos, Sitia, Commander L.S. Psarrakis Ioannis and Ierapetra, Commander L.S. Eliotis Alexandros.
The Minister met with the Port Masters of Agios Nikolaos, Commander L.S. Pattakos Konstantinos, Sitia, Commander L.S. Psarrakis Ioannis and Ierapetra, Commander L.S. Eliotis Alexandros.
Then he went to the Heraklion Port Authority where he held a meeting with the participation of members of the prefecture, the Regional Governor, Stavros Arnaoutakis, the Deputy Regional Governor, Nikolaos Syrigonakis, the Mayor, Alexios Kalokairinou, the Managing Director of OLI S.A, Minas Papadakis, the North and South Aegean Coordinator of the Fire Brigade, Major General Michael Seliniotakis, the Commander of the 44th Military Command and School of Reserve Infantry Officers, Brigadier General Fotios Arbis and the Police Director of Heraklion, Brigadier General Paraskevas Hinoupoulos. Mr. Kikilias was thoroughly briefed on the migration issue, as well as on issues concerning the local community, the needs and infrastructure of the island.
The Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy concluded his tour of Crete with his participation as a speaker at the Pre-Conference of the New Democracy party, held in Heraklion, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
