howard govt:political capital from human misery, page-14

About 5,500 persons applied for asylum in Greece
in 2001, a 78 percent increase from the 3,083 who applied
in 2000. The largest number came from Iraq (1,972), followed
by Afghanistan (1,459) and Turkey (800). During
the year, Greece approved the applications of 147 asylum
seekers, granted humanitarian status to an additional 148
applicants, and ***DENIED**** 1,047 cases.
Despite the substantial increase in asylum applicants
in 2001, the majority of asylum seekers and migrants
entering Greece continued to view the country as a point of transit en route to other Western European destinations.(so they are safe in Greece but consider it a dump and want to move to greener pastures do they. Dont sound like reffos to me, sound like fence jumpers and opportunists.)

But what the hell, atomu reckons they have plenty so 12 more wont make any difference ..There all yours Atomu, ring ya granny tell theyre coming to stay!!"..lol



OOOH! Whats this??


In 2001, Greek authorities apprehended
an estimated 220,000 irregular migrants, a significant
increase from the 164,000 arrests made during the previous
year. In response to the increased number, the Greek
government took several steps to prevent the arrival of undocumented
migrants, including would-be asylum seekers.
The Greek Parliament passed a new aliens law, effective
in May 2001, which includes carrier sanctions and
stiff penalties, such as fines and prison terms, for individuals
who either employ or facilitate the entry of undocumented
foreigners. The law also mandates that smugglers
who knowingly transport undocumented aliens in unsafe
conditions receive prison sentences of two years for each
illegal alien transported. While asylum seekers technically
were exempt from the provisions of the aliens law, human
rights and refugee organizations reported that in practice
authorities did not differentiate between undocumented
asylum seekers and other illegal migrants, often denying
them the chance to apply for asylum.
Greece also concluded a readmission agreement
with Turkey in November that provides for the return of
undocumented migrants. UNHCR and human rights organizations
criticized the agreement for not including procedural
safeguards to ensure that asylum seekers would have
access to the Greek asylum procedure, an omission that became
immediately evident with the agreement’s implementation.
During the third week of November, Amnesty International
reported that Greek authorities summarily returned
more than 120 irregular migrants to Turkey without affording
them the opportunity to apply for asylum.

Oh crap , look at this,,,hahahahahaha

. During the year, the MPO
Landmines that Greece deploys on its border with
Turkey reportedly killed at least nine undocumented foreigners
trying to enter the country in 2001. In response to
the deaths of five migrants who strayed into a Greek mine
field in the border zone, the U.S. Committee for Refugees
called upon the Greek government to remove its minefields
in a July 16, 2001 letter to the Greek Ambassador to the
United States. The Greek government did not respond. On
December 23, Greek landmines reportedly killed four men
and injured three others, all from Iraq. Landmines in the
border zone have claimed at least 20 lives since 1999.
Greek detention practices also came under fire in
2001. During the year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that poor conditions in two detention centers in Athens
were inhumane and degrading for detainees. Prior to
the rulings, Human Rights Watch reported a general level of
filth, severe overcrowding, poor sleeping conditions, limited
access to medical care, and inadequate provision of food
at the two centers. There were also credible reports that authorities
beat as many as 100 foreigners, at least 10 severely,
in a Crete detention facility in June. Although three detention
center employees faced disciplinary action for the incident,
they had not been charged with criminal wrongdoing
by year’s end.
country’s policies largely in line with European Union
(EU) standards. Among the most important amendments
were provisions that allow undocumented asylum seekers
full access to the asylum system, establish procedural
safeguards for the treatment of unaccompanied minor
asylum seekers, and allow the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) to monitor the appeals process
by receiving notification of decisions made by the
Budapest Municipal Court.
Additionally, in an effort to shorten the asylum procedure

Holy cow atomu, your humanitarian super powers are needed elsewhere........Go west, my myopic young man....lolol