The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres expressed full support for Greece's efforts to tackle the migration issue on Tuesday during an official visit in Athens.
After a meeting with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Guterres called on other EU member states to understand the " disproportionate pressure Greece faces due to its geographical position" and assist Athens by all means.
Guterres was briefed by Greek prime minister and ministers on the government's planned reforms regarding asylum policy, granting citizenship to legal migrants and fighting illegal immigration.
Papandreou said that Greece will focus on the five priorities in the coming weeks and months. The country will seek better border surveillance and will strengthen efforts against human trafficking. It will also enhance the protection of political refugees, coordination with UNHCR, the EU and neighboring countries, and pave the way for the smooth integration of legal immigrants.
The Greek leader stressed the need for cooperation with neighboring countries, especially Turkey, since thousands of illegal migrants each year try to enter EU via Greece, coming from Turkey.
"We are waiting for EU assistance to create a comprehensive modern immigration policy" Papandreou said.
"We send a clear message towards every direction that Greece is not a clear zone for anyone who wants to enter Europe without permission," Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisohoidis added, after his meeting with Guterres.
Greece will raise the issue of the implementation of readmission agreements signed with Turkey during the upcoming informal Council meeting to be held in Spain next month, Chrisohoidis said.
"We will try to convince Turkey to respect existing agreements, " the Greek Minister stressed, while Greece's Coast Guard released a new report on illegal immigration.
More than 10,000 illegal immigrants were arrested in 2009 in the Aegean Sea, Greek authorities announced. According to official data, 595 incidents were recorded, 186 traffickers mostly Turkish national- were arrested and 159 boats seized.
Overall between 2001 and 2009 at least 54,362 illegal immigrants were arrested, as well as 934 traffickers and 829 vessels were seized.
Between 2007 and 2009 Greece's Coast Guard rescued from drowning a total of 13,825 immigrants.