Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, who previously hinted he would buy Mediterranean islands for migrants and refugees, has identified two private Greek islands and is in negotiations with their owners to purchase them, according to a statement issued from his communication office Monday evening.
“We have corresponded with the owners and expressed our interest to go into negotiation with them provided that they can acquire the approval of the government of Greece to host maximum number of refugees allowable according to Greek laws,” the statement read.
On Sept. 2, Sawiris, 61, offered to buy a Greek or Italian island for unregistered migrants from the Middle East and North Africa who are eyeing European countries; he chose to name the island after Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old child who drowned and washed up on Turkish shores.
According to the statement, the tycoon said that his proposal was approved by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and he would meet with their representatives to discuss his proposal. He invited people to donate and to establish a joint-stock company with capital of $100 million, after a number of people expressed their help and share.
