Greek Politician Says Closing Borders Would Keep the 'Enemy' Inside

Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said that Greece, the main transit route for refugees coming to Europe across the Aegean Sea from Turkey, is in a very difficult position.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The migration crisis is a test that will show the level of Europe's stability, Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili told Sputnik Express Greek-language radio program.

"Europe today is being tested for stability. There are countries that have closed the borders, believing that by doing so, they will run away from the so-called enemy. The truth is that if an enemy, whatever enemy, exists they shut [the enemy] inside by closing the borders," Gerovasili said.

She underscored that Greece, the main transit route for refugees coming to Europe across the Aegean Sea from Turkey, is in a very difficult situation, as thousands of migrants enter it monthly and cannot leave the country due to border closures by some EU member states.

Since the beginning of 2016, over 147,000 migrants have arrived in Greece out of a total of some 160,000 arrivals to Europe via the Mediterranean, according to the international Organization for Migration.

Macedonia closed its border with Greece to incoming migrants in February after other countries along the Balkan route had closed their borders, including Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria. The border closures have resulted in thousands of refugees being stranded in Greece, particularly along the border with Macedonia.