Greece says Turkish demands posing obstacles to NATO mission in Aegean

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomes NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (R) at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece April 22, 2016. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

ATHENS (Reuters) - Turkish demands are posing obstacles to a NATO mission in the Aegean Sea aimed at countering the smuggling of migrants and refugees into Europe, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday.

NATO sent its ships into Greek and Turkish waters in the Aegean in March. On Thursday, it said the number of migrants and refugees crossing the sea from Turkey was falling significantly, but smugglers can rapidly change routes and authorities must not reduce security efforts prematurely.