ATHENS, Greece (AP) – A leading European human rights official says Greece has faced major problems in dealing with the refugee crisis but has made significant efforts to handle the issues.
Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that concerns remain about the detention of some asylum-seekers while their applications are being processed.
He said that while the organization was mindful of criticism about the lengthy waits for asylum applications to be processed, this should also be balanced with the fact that such applications need individual attention.
He said the Council of Europe has expertise to assist both Greece and Turkey in the handling of the migration crisis.
Jagland spoke during a visit to Athens to discuss the refugee crisis with top Greek officials.