Greece’s decision to continue unabated its efforts to confront the humanitarian situation in Libya was confirmed today at a meeting chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis, with the Secretaries General of the Foreign Ministry, Mr. I. A. Zepos, and the Ministry of Citizen Protection, Mr. E. Economou.
It was decided at the meeting that there would be continued facilitation of the entry into, and hosting in, Greece of Libyan citizens who were either wounded or abused during the armed conflict in their country, so that they can be provided with the necessary high-quality and specialized hospital care, bearing in mind the obligations and commitments deriving from our participation in Schengen enhanced cooperation.
In order for the arrival of Libyan wounded in Greece to be smooth and orderly, it was decided that from this point on the relevant requests should be directed to the Greek Embassy in Tripoli and come from or go through the competent Libyan authorities: the Libyan Wounded Evacuation Team (WLET) or the Temporary Financing Mechanism (TFM), which have been tasked relevantly by the National Transitional Council. The Embassy will evaluate the requests in question, provided they are submitted within the deadline – at least 24 hours before the scheduled transport – and include complete data on the interested parties and their means of transport, and provided there is confirmed availability of beds in private Greek hospitals.
Entry into Greece will be refused in cases where the above procedure has not been followed and the interested parties do not have a consular visa or consular pre-approval for issuing of a visa at the airport upon their arrival.
Private Greek hospitals undertaking to host and provide care for Libyan casualties will be asked to inform the Aliens Directorate of Greek Police Headquarters in writing and in a timely manner of any need for wounded to be moved to another hospital or rehabilitation center, of any request for necessary extension of wounded parties’ stay in Greece, of the completion of treatment and of the forthcoming departure of those who have been treated.
The Libyan Embassy in Athens will be asked to provide specific information and services regarding Libyan casualties’ stay in and departure from Greece.
Via the abovementioned procedure, Greece will continue to increase the support it is providing for Libya and its people, contributing substantially to the allaying of the impact of the armed conflict. The fact that Greece is currently hosting more Libyan casualties than any other country is practical proof of our support.
December 13, 2011