Greece grants citizenship to 3 migrant fishermen

Greece granted citizenship to three migrant fishermen for rescuing dozens during a disastrous summer wildfire last year, sending a message to Europe, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Wednesday, welcoming the three heroes to his office, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

Egyptians Emand El Khamisi, 50, Mahmoud Moussa, 46, and Albanian Jeka Gani, 35, risked their lives alongside many other local fishermen on July 23, 2018 rescuing dozens of people fleeing the blaze which swept through the seaside resort of Mati, some 30 kilometers northeast of Athens.

One hundred people died in the flames or the sea that evening. Pavlopoulos signed a few days ago a decree granting the Greek citizenship to the three men.

During a ceremony at the presidential mansion on Wednesday, he hailed their shining example of self-sacrifice and denounced xenophobia, stressing that now they are not only Greek, but European citizens as well.

"Let certain partners realize through your example that being a European is a great honor, but also comes with responsibilities. Whoever does not respect fundamental principles of humanism and solidarity in Europe is unworthy of being called a true European, in particularly in these difficult times," the Greek president said, according to an e-mailed statement.

"This is why, therefore, I feel proud today and I am so moved, because through your example we are sending a message to Europe," he added, speaking during the ceremony which was broadcast on Greek state broadcaster ERT.

"Since we are at the beginning of the new year, 2019, I'd like to hope that your example will be the guide for all of us, for the Greek society, in a year which will be difficult and challenging so that the new year and the future from on, for us and our children, will be the future of a society of no exclusions, but partnership and solidarity," Interior Minister Alexis Charitsis said on his part, addressing the event.

Charitsis noted that the three men were granted the Greek citizenship as a gesture of gratitude on the part of the Greek state under provisions of a law made for those providing "exceptional services to Greece".

The Greek official added that the government aims to accelerate the lengthy process for granting citizenship to thousands of other foreign nationals that meet the legal criteria and requirements.

Moussa has lived and worked in Greece for the past 31 years, he told AMNA recently. He felt that Greece is his new home and his neighbors are his new family, long before the granting of citizenship, he said.