Position of Greek refugees

Recommendation 602 (1970)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 20 April 1970 (4th Sitting) (see Doc. 2732, report of the Committee on Population and Refugees). Text adopted by the Assembly on 20 April 1970 (4th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Considering that there are many Greeks who are now living outside their country in order not to be subjected to the regime which assumed power after the coup d'état in 1967 ;

2. Noting that the Greek authorities often refuse to renew the passports of opponents of the regime who are living abroad, and that, because of their situation, those Greeks in exile who do not have refugee status encounter numerous difficulties in obtaining residence and work permits or affiliation to the social security scheme or sickness fund of the country of residence ;

3. Concerned by the fact that many of the Greek exiles who are members of the professions are unable to carry on their professions and are often compelled, for financial reasons, to take work which is altogether out of keeping with their qualifications ;

4. Believing that a special fund financed by all member states ought to be set up to provide the Greeks in exile with economic assistance, and noting that the Council of Europe Resettlement Fund could manage such a fund under Article 5 of its Articles of Agreement ;

5. Believing that, in the present circumstances, member states should do as much as possible to alleviate the difficulties of the Greeks in exile, in anticipation of a change in the situation in Greece which will enable that country to rejoin the Council of Europe,

6. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite member governments to make urgently the following temporary arrangements to assist the Greeks who are in exile because of the present regime :

6.1 speedy grant of residence and work permits ;

6.2 affiliation to social security schemes, even for those who, because of their age or their situation, are without work ;

6.3 recognition, to the fullest extent possible, of qualifications, particularly qualifications pertaining to the professions ; (iv) issue of travel documents to those whose passports have not been renewed by the Greek authorities ;

6.4 abolition of visa charges for those who, without having refugee status, hold special travel documents issued by the responsible authorities of their countries of residence ;

6.5 award of grants to students, to enable them to complete their studies, and to workers, to enable them to continue their vocational training ;

6.6 joint payment of a total sum of 100,000 dollars to the Council of Europe Resettlement Fund for the purpose of improving the precarious situation of the Greeks now in exile.