„Macedonian army builds fence on Greek border“

28. November 2015 · Kommentare deaktiviert für „Macedonian army builds fence on Greek border“ · Kategorien: Balkanroute, Griechenland, Mazedonien · Tags:

Quelle: Reuters

  • Soldiers drive metal poles into ground on border
  • Macedonia says not closing border completely
  • Buildup at border of migrants denied passage (Updates with government spokesman)

By Yannis Behrakis and Kole Casule

IDOMENI, Greece/SKOPJE, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Soldiers in Macedonia began erecting a metal fence on Saturday on the country’s southern border with Greece, but the government said it had no plans to seal off access to refugees fleeing war and heading to western Europe.

Soldiers drove metal poles around 3 metres high into the cold, muddy ground, building a barrier similar to that erected by Hungary on its southern border to keep out the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have crossed the Balkans this year.

Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis fleeing conflict are flowing largely unimpeded across Balkan borders having landed by boat in Greece from Turkey.

But for the past two weeks, countries on the route including Macedonia have begun turning back migrants of other nationalities, leading to a chaotic buildup at the Macedonian-Greek border and days of protests by Iranians, Pakistanis, Moroccans and others.

Two days ago, protesters tried to storm police lines, breaking through a flimsy barrier into Macedonia, an impoverished former Yugoslav republic.

A government spokesman said the aim of the new fence was „to direct the inflow of people towards the controlled points for their registration and humane treatment.“

„We would like to underline that the border will remain open,“ said spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgjiev. „We will allow passage for the people who come from war-affected regions as we have done thus far.“

European Union member Hungary in September and October sealed its own southern border to migrants, calling them a threat to the security, prosperity and „Christian values“ of Europe.

That diverted them into Croatia and Slovenia en route mostly to Germany, which is struggling to cope. Germany expects roughly 1 million refugees and migrants to arrive this year alone.

(Writing by Matt Robinson; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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