Greece Boosts Cooperation with Neighbors on Migrants

Greece on Friday hailed the start of negotiations with its neighbors Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia on heightened cooperation to tackle the migrant crisis.

"This was the first discussion between foreign and interior ministers from the four countries" aimed at creating a "coordination and cooperation mechanism" to fight people-traffickers and counter the wider migrant problem, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said in a statement.

The system should be up and running within six months, Kotzias told a press conference with his three counterparts after they met in Thessaloniki, approaching the Macedonian border where thousands of migrants are stuck in grim conditions at Idomeni.

Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati also stressed the need for cooperation with Italy.

The closure last month of borders along the Balkan migrant route, as well as an EU-Turkey deal to stem the influx, have sparked fears that more asylum-seekers will attempt the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Italy.

"We know there is always the possibility that the migration routes can change," said Bushati.