?Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) meets with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland in Athens, Greece, on Sept. 18, 2018. Jagland visited Athens on Tuesday to discuss with Greek leaders the migration, refugee crisis. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The migration, refugee challenge cannot be addressed only by a small group of EU states, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland agreed on Tuesday in Athens.
The Council of Europe has an important role to play in the protection of human rights and social cohesion in Europe, Pavlopoulos noted, welcoming Jagland who visited the Greek capital to discuss with Greek leaders the migration, refugee crisis.
This particular issue is a test for all Europeans who need to prove that they respect human rights, the Greek president said, according to an e-mailed press statement issued from his office.
"Some of our partners should understand that it is not possible to violate in such a manner human rights in the case of refugees and think that they can go away with this without sanctions," Pavlopoulos stressed in a message to EU member states who refuse to share the burden.
"It is not fair for a small group of countries to bear the burden of migration. A small group of states cannot manage this problem. This situation must change," Jagland said on his part, according to the press statement.
The Council of Europe chief praised Greece for its solidarity with incoming refugees and migrants and the respect of human rights in recent years, despite the economic crisis.
Regarding the economic crisis and austerity policies implemented to tackle it, Pavlopoulos stressed the need to adopt measures to support social cohesion.
"Social cohesion is in danger from the corrosion of the welfare state. We must defend social rights, because inequalities, due to economic policies, destroy social cohesion and this is very dangerous," the Greek president said.
This is a key goal for Greece in the post-bailout era which started on Aug. 20, when the debt-laden country exited the harsh bailout after eight difficult years.
Jagland also held a separate meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday. But no statements were made to the press.
Jagland, however, said on his twitter account that "I commend Tsipras and the people of Greece for helping the most vulnerable people during the worst crisis. We shall not forget your humanitarian support and solidarity."
Greece has been at the front of the refugee, migrant crisis since early 2015. More than 1 million people have landed on Greek shores and continued their journey to central and northern Europe until the closure of borders in the Balkan route in March 2016.
Although arrivals have been reduced since then, still dozens of desperate people each day keep risking their lives to cross the Aegean Sea from the Turkish shores to reach Greece.
Approximately 60,000 refugees and migrants are currently stranded in Greece, according to official data.
