Greek police remove people from border with Macedonia

Greek police have started removing people from the country's border with Macedonia after a snap decision to tighten border controls by the Balkan state left thousands stranded. 

Authorities said the mostly Afghan migrants and refugees were being put on buses bound for 

Athens, in the south of the country, where they will be temporarily housed in relocation camps. 

Police and empty buses had entered the Idomeni area before dawn. In one area seen from the 

Macedonian side Of the border, about 600 people had been surrounded by Greek police, a witness 

told Reuters. 

About 4,000 people were stranded on the frontier on Tuesday as the crossing of Syrians and Iraqis 

— who are allowed to pass — slowed considerably, Greek police said. 

On Monday Greece made frantic appeals to Macedonia to open its frontier. By midday up to 

10,000 men, women and children had been trapped in Greecew, with most marooned in the north. 

Another 4,000 people, newly arrived from islands off Turkey's Aegean coast, were stuck in 

Athens's port Of Piraeus. 

On Tuesday morning a further I ,250 people arrived in Athens from three Greek islands. Some of 

them had bus tickets to Idomeni, but it was unclear if they would be permitted to travel north from 

Athens. 

Macedonian police officers stand in front of a gate over as migrants wait behind at the Greek- 

Macedonian border. Photograph: Marko DjuricafReuters 

The backlog came after Macedonia refused entry to Afghan refugees 131 claiming it was reacting to 

a similar move by Serbia. 

Amid rising tension and fears of the collapse of the passport-free Schengen zone, Greece 

lambasted the policies being pursued by countries to its north. 

Speaking on state-run ERT television, the Greek migration minister, Yiannis Mouzalas, said: 

"Once again the European Union voted for something, it reached an agreement, but a number of 

countries lacking the culture of the European Union, including Austria, unfortunately violated this 

deal barely 10 hours after it had been reached." 

Neighbouring countries along the Balkan corridor had in turn become enmeshed in "an outburst of 

scaremongering' . 

A boy holds his baby brother at the port ofPiraeus on Tuesday. 

Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images 

"The Visegråd countries have not only not accepted even one refugee; they have not sent even a 

blanket for a refugee," he added, referring to the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. 

"Or a policeman to reinforce LEU border agencyl Frontex." 

Skopje said on Monday it had tightened restrictions after Austria imposed a cap on transit and 

asylum applications, triggering a domino effect down the migrant trail. 

As ofT1cials scrambled to find accommodation for the newcomers, Athens's leftist-led government 

was engaged in desperate diplomatic efforts to ease the border controls. 

Greece's foreign ministry said a formal protest had been filed with Austria over its decision to call 

a meeting of Balkan states on the migrant crisis without including Greece. The move was a 

"unilateral and non-friendly act" towards Greece on a matter in which Athens had a direct interest, 

the ministry said. 

Vienna has invited Balkan states to a meeting on the migration crisis on Wednesday, following the 

country's move to limit asylum applicants last week. 

Response:

Identifies problem/question: This article talks more about the Syrian refugee crisis and how that has affected Greece and the other European countries. They are mainly looking at the issue of how the Syrian Refugee Crisis has created tensions between the different countries, especially between the countries that are accepting refugees and helping them out and the ones that aren't. There is a sense of resentment toward countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia and the author even says that these countries have not taken in a single refugee or sent any supplies to help the countries that are involved in helping out with the Syrian refugees.

Identifies student's own perspective: I think that the countries that are helping out with the Syrian Refugee crisis are doing the right thing, but I do understand the other countries who may not have enough food, space, or money to accept a bunch of refugees and care for them adequately, however, I do believe that each country can and should do their part to help out by sending money or supplies even if they can't actually set up refugee camps. I also realize that Greece is doing much more for these refugees than many people may think. The country of Greece is setting up what will be the world's largest refugee camp and accepting the Syrians into their country as a safe haven.

Identifies other positions: As I mentioned before, I do understand that some of these countries that aren't accepting refugees have legitimate reasons for not helping out. It appears that many of the countries that are not accepting refugees are some of the poorer or less well-off countries and I can see how that would be a completely reasonable excuse for not helping out in this area. This view is different from my own, but I believe that the people in charge of these countries know what intake and aid they can and can't provide so I think that there is a reason for their denial of refugees into their countries.

Identifies assumptions: The author seems to assume that we have the same opinion about the Syrian refugee crisis and the countries that are not working on and helping this process. The assumed opinion seems to be spiteful and attacking of the other countries.

Identifies Evidence: The author seems to use the evidence of other countries having "bad motives" and excluding Greece from conferences about the Syrian refugee crisis as a fact rather than just his opinion of how bad things actually are. The author also emphasizes and may even over emphasize his opinion by using the extreme numbers to show how horrible the situation is.

Identifies Context: The context of this article is most likely written from the perspective of a person that is actually in Greece (or another European country) and is surrounded by the opinions and bias and even firsthand experience around them. I think this article is meant for pretty much any audience but specifically addresses European countries and their response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

Conclusions: I think that this article did give a pretty objective opinion and data about the Syrian refugee crisis in relation to the different European countries' responses. I think this article was informative about more than just the numbers and troubles of the Syrian refugee crisis like so many articles do these days. Overall, I think the author gave a very clear article to help us understand this issue in more depth.

Citation:  Smith, Helena. "Greek Police Remove People from Border with Macedonia."

The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 23 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/23/greece-implores-macedonia-to-reopen-border-to-refugees>.