Greek intelligence officials disclosed detailed Turkish plans yesterday to allow 3,000 migrants a day to sail to Greece, as relations between Ankara and the EU rapidly deteriorated.
The analysts said that thousands of dinghies and motorboats were massing along Turkey’s western coast, and the Syrian migrants were preparing to head for Greek shores.
Under the plan, disclosed by the Greek newspaper Proto Thema, national intelligence officials estimate that at least 3,000 undocumented migrants could stream into Greece each day. The scheme would be executed “within a matter of weeks”, according to the officials.
Intelligence analysts cited in the newspaper said that the plans had the support of President Erdogan of Turkey, who is locked in a struggle with the European Union. “No one is underestimating Mr Erdogan and his unpredictability these days,” Athanassios Drougas, an intelligence expert in Athens, told The Times. “These plans, along with explicit threats that the Turkish president has made in recent weeks, have Greece’s joint chiefs of staff seriously concerned.
“They are fearful and they have told the political leadership here that if Turkey opens the floodgates yet again, Greece, in its current state of financial and social distress, will not be able to withstand the shock. It will spell war or wreak the havoc of one.”
More than 60,000 refugees remain stranded in Greece after several Balkan states sealed their borders last February. An estimated 16,000 asylum seekers remain in limbo on five Aegean islands, close to Turkey’s western shores.
Dr Drougas said: “It’s no surprise that the Hellenic Navy and special units have been undertaking increased exercises around Greek islands, mainly in the northern Aegean, for fear of a sudden attack in the case of a dramatic deterioration in Ankara’s relations with the EU.” Government and military officials contacted yesterday refused to comment but did not deny the report.
Details of the plan came days after Mr Erdogan threatened to unleash a torrent of migrants into Europe if the EU halted Turkey’s membership talks. EU politicians had voted in favour of freezing the negotiations after Mr Erdogan arrested and jailed thousands in the aftermath of a botched coup last July.
Dr Drougas said: “With Europe in a mess, Mr Erdogan feels he has a free hand in trying to blackmail the bloc using the refugee crisis as leverage.”
Mr Erdogan signed an agreement with European leaders earlier this year to halt migration flows. Since then, European leaders and human rights groups have raised concerns over Ankara’s record and its failure to deliver on commitments in the deal.
‘Coup’ officers face extradition
Extradition proceedings are to begin this week for eight military officers who have been denied political asylum in Greece after fleeing July’s failed coup attempt in Turkey (Anthee Carassava writes).
The officers left Turkey in a helicopter and flew to the Greek city of Alexandroupolis, near the Turkish border, and immediately applied for asylum.
Stavroula Tomara, their lawyer, said that the officers, who are in police custody, would be seeking a postponement because there was a lack of evidence “provided by Turkey to substantiate the extradition request”. Turkey insists that the eight officers were instrumental in the botched coup.
