Greece could pay debt by hosting migrants

Greece could pay its foreign debts by hosting deportation centres, giving Europe a new option in tackling the migrant crisis, Czech President Milos Zeman said yesterday.

   Zeman told Czech television channel Prima that the idea came from one of his advisers. He called it "an idea that could kill two birds with one stone". "Detention centres would be built on Greek islands to which migrants [expelled] from Europe would be deported ... and Greece would, by maintaining these detention centres, pay its otherwise uncollectable foreign debt," he said.

   The EU is holding a summit with Turkey today on how to handle the migrant crisis. Germany has said finding ways to help Greece, the main entry point into Europe for refugees, would be a priority. Zeman has been outspoken on the migrant issue. The Greek Foreign Ministry declined to comment yesterday.

   Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, lashing out yesterday at border restrictions that led to migrants being stranded, said Greece would press for solidarity with refugees and fair burden-sharing among EU states.

   Tsipras has accused Austria and Balkan countries of "ruining Europe" by slowing the flow of migrants heading north from Greece, where about 30000 are now trapped waiting for Macedonia to reopen its border so that they can head to Germany.

   "Europe is in a nervous crisis," Tsipras told his leftist Syriza party's central committee. "Will a Europe of fear and racism overtake a Europe of solidarity?" Central European leaders have been sceptical about Greece's ability to limit the number of migrants, many of whom are fleeing war in Syria and elsewhere, and fear Turkey cannot stem the inflow of people crossing the Aegean Sea. They have said a back-up plan to help Balkan countries along the migration route is vital.

Πηγή: Times Live.co.za