To blog pou mou edwse dynamh kai me empneuse na kanw
kai egw kati, estw kai mikro gia thn patrida, fenete oti ekleise.
Krimas gamoto, xreiazomaste perisoterous mazi mas,
oxi ligoterous.
Mporei na eine kati prosorino. An oxi, paidia sas euxaristw
gia osa kanate. An kourastikate ligaki, den peirazh, oloi mas
kourazomaste pou kai pou.
Ena eine shgouro, o agonas den teleionh edw.
8a synexisoume mexri th nikh.
Kai 8a nikhsoume.
Zhtw h Ellada!!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Πώς τα καταφέραμε έτσι???
Πώς τα καταφέραμε έτσι; Αντί να βαράμε εμείς το ντέφι και να χορεύει η μαϊμού, τώρα η μαϊμού βαράει το ντέφι και μας χορεύει στο ταψί...!!!
Is there a way out for Greece?
Greece does not have many alternatives in order to effectively deal with its immigration issue. Either the country continues the failed policies of half-measures, ex-post facto regularizations, good intentions and wishful thinking or the government becomes realistic and tackles the real dangers that have emerged as a result of the issue’s mismanagement in the last 20 years. A realistic approach must result in a complete overhaul of current policies and a U-turn on current immigration management. In brief, Greece should:
- Estimate the labor market needs for migrant labor on a regular basis
- Estimate its infrastructure’s carrying capacity as far as population is concerned
- Guard its land and sea borders much more effectively
- Improve the repatriation rate of illegal immigrants. This can be achieved through a mix of diplomatic efforts, bilateral agreements, concerted EU efforts and repatriation programs. Special focus must be given on the agreement with Turkey which is one of the main transit countries of illegal immigrants to Greece and, thus, Europe
- Rationalize (i.e. decrease) the number of legalized immigrants by not renewing residence and work permits of non-EU citizens and by introducing voluntary
repatriation programs - Ensure the compliance of employers to labor legislation especially as far as illegal labor is concerned. Enforce harsh penalties to those who employ illegal immigrants
- Refrain from new regularization efforts
- Set national security and community cohesion as its main immigration policy making criteria
Unfortunately, the main obstacles to the aforementioned policy framework are the chronic dysfunctions of the Greek state mechanisms and a lack of political will. These two factors are the main reasons behind the continuous and rapid deterioration of the immigration situation in Greece. A European focus on Greece’s compliance with the essence of the EU Pact on Immigration and Asylum will ensure that Greece designs and implements a viable immigration policy that protects Greece’s (and EU’s) national and state security and increases community cohesion. »
Muslim fundamentalism
Until now Greece did not seem to have a particular issue of Islamic fundamentalism.
Nevertheless, as aptly described in the latest State Department report on terrorism, “Greece is increasingly an EU entry point for illegal immigrants coming from the Middle East and South Asia and there was concern that it could be used as a transit route for terrorists traveling to Europe and the United States. The number of illegal immigrants entering Greece, especially through the Aegean Sea, increased dramatically in 2008 and 2009, with more than 100,000 illegal immigrants, nearly half of whom originated from North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, arrested each year”.
It should be noted though that in May 2009 Athens witnessed the first incident of a “clash of civilizations” on Greek soil when hundreds of Muslim immigrants clashed with the police and with locals for two days, after an alleged tearing-up of the Quran by a police officer during a stop-and-search operation. Bus stops, 5 shops, one bank and 57 cars where smashed in and the city center’s main squares and streets were turned into battle zones for hours. 46 immigrants were arrested, 7 immigrants and 7 police officers were wounded during the clashes.
Nevertheless, as aptly described in the latest State Department report on terrorism, “Greece is increasingly an EU entry point for illegal immigrants coming from the Middle East and South Asia and there was concern that it could be used as a transit route for terrorists traveling to Europe and the United States. The number of illegal immigrants entering Greece, especially through the Aegean Sea, increased dramatically in 2008 and 2009, with more than 100,000 illegal immigrants, nearly half of whom originated from North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, arrested each year”.
It should be noted though that in May 2009 Athens witnessed the first incident of a “clash of civilizations” on Greek soil when hundreds of Muslim immigrants clashed with the police and with locals for two days, after an alleged tearing-up of the Quran by a police officer during a stop-and-search operation. Bus stops, 5 shops, one bank and 57 cars where smashed in and the city center’s main squares and streets were turned into battle zones for hours. 46 immigrants were arrested, 7 immigrants and 7 police officers were wounded during the clashes.
Albanian nationalism
According to a recent survey by Gallup’s Balkan Monitor20 70.5% of Albanians support the formation of Greater Albania. Albanians consider a part of Northwest Greece in the Epirus region (called “Cameria” by Albanians) as part of Greater Albania (see map below). Thus, the presence of an increasing number of Albanians in Greece could offer Albanian nationalists a large recruiting pool of fighters (or sympathizers) for the “liberation” of “Cameria”. Moreover, the right to vote in local elections offered to legalized immigrants and the lowering of the threshold to Greek citizenship will offer political leverage to any nationalist claims which may arise.
As noted above, Greeks have the most negative attitudes towards Albanian immigrants and the events of September 2004 should always be kept in mind. Then, after a soccer match between Albania and Greece, extended clashes took place between Greeks and Albanians in many areas of Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki and in the cities of Corfu, Rhodes, Volos, Larissa, Corinth, Tripolis and Nafplion. One man was left dead and there were at least 50 wounded from the clashes. Finally, according to an article which appeared in the newspaper “Proto Thema” on March 21st, sources from the Ministry for Citizen’s Protection estimate that 3,000 Albanians who live in Greece own AK-47 rifles and unknown quantities of ammunition. It should be noted that the majority of those Albanians reside in Greece legally.
Integration? What integration?
The fact that a large and increasing number of people enter and stay in the country makes their integration more difficult. Moreover, the fact that the vast majority of these people originate from countries outside the EU is a factor that further impedes integration. Finally, bearing in mind the relevant experience of other European countries such as the UK, France and the Netherlands, the fact that the vast majority of these people comes from Muslim countries will hamper any effort for their integration. Integration will not take place also because the vast majority of immigrants in Greece entered the country illegally and have been ex-post facto regularized. Thus, the stance of the native population towards them is very negative. High criminality of immigrants and the ghettoization of several parts of Athens city center only enhance this negative stance. According to a recent poll by Kapa Research16 51.6% of Greeks consider immigrants as “a threat” and only 30.6% as “an opportunity”. Moreover, 79.3% of Greeks believe that immigrants who live in this country are “too many”. Furthermore, an extended survey in 2007 indicated that Greeks have the most negative feelings towards Albanians, who constitute by far the largest ethnic community.
Thus, it should not come as a surprise that significant parts of Greece’s immigrant population (even of second generation immigrants) do not seem to integrate in Greek society. A recent study by the National University of Athens18 indicates that the majority of first generation immigrants and a very significant minority of second generation immigrants (40-50%) have difficulties integrating.
Finally, integration efforts are also offset by the fact that unemployment among foreigners is much higher (and rising) than among Greeks. According to the National Statistics Service Labor Force Survey for the first trimester of 201019, unemployment was higher among people of foreign nationality than among Greeks (14.5% and 11.4% respectively).
Thus, it should not come as a surprise that significant parts of Greece’s immigrant population (even of second generation immigrants) do not seem to integrate in Greek society. A recent study by the National University of Athens18 indicates that the majority of first generation immigrants and a very significant minority of second generation immigrants (40-50%) have difficulties integrating.
Finally, integration efforts are also offset by the fact that unemployment among foreigners is much higher (and rising) than among Greeks. According to the National Statistics Service Labor Force Survey for the first trimester of 201019, unemployment was higher among people of foreign nationality than among Greeks (14.5% and 11.4% respectively).
Friday, December 24, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
