Athens,
18
December 2009
Today, we commemorate the efforts of the people who had to leave their country for a second homeland, to the society and economy of which they contribute. We honour Greek migrants and their progress around the world just as we welcome the immigrants who have come to our country and work here.
This day also reminds us of our duty to work in order to manage the humanitarian aspect of migration. At a time when climate change and the economic crisis are exacerbating migration pressures, humanity is called upon to put the migrant – this modern-day Ulysses – at the heart of its policy and contemplate how it can effectively safeguard his/her rights and dignity.
The complex issue of migration can only be addressed through everyone’s cooperation; of both the host and home countries. Migrants can become a bridge to unite us; They can initiate development for both sides.
We must not forget that reality is often cruel for migrants as they are faced with discrimination, exploitation and insults. The challenge for us is to tackle all the phenomena that crush human existence and have no place in modern society, i.e. racism, xenophobia and intolerance.
Another challenge is to tackle illegal migration which exploits the dreams and hopes of people who are caught in the shackles of modern slavery. It is shameful that there are slave-traders and traffickers of human souls in the 21st century. Greece is a country that experiences the consequences of this tragic form of exploitation on a daily basis. And it is determined to fight in order to address the phenomenon of illegal migration and give a prospect of peace and development to these people’s home countries.