Caretaker Minister of Shipping Christos Zois expressed his deep sorrow for the latest tragedy in the eastern Aegean where 34 refugees drowned when a lifeboat carrying around130 refugees capsized early on Sept. 13, off the island of Farmakonisi close to the Turkish coast, in what seems to be the largest death toll in those waters since the migrant crisis began.

Greek authorities announced that 34 bodies have been recovered, including four infants and 11 children, while the Coast Guard rescued 68 refugees, and the rest managed to swim to the shore of Farmakonisi.

Chairing an important meeting to discuss the migrant and refugee crisis in Mytilene on the island of Lesvos, caretaker Prime Minister rebuked "isolated voices" criticizing Greece for its handling of the refugee issue, and stressed that Greece is strictly implementing all European and international treaties, and always with regard to humanitarian values. 

Thanou urged critics to consider "the size of the responsibility of guarding European borders along 16,000 miles of coast line" and whether the "Europe of values and the future can be build by once again erecting walls." She also announced two more hospitality centre s for refugees to open soon in Attica and near Thessaloniki.