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WORLD NEWS Monday 30 SepteMber 2024
Norway is mulling building a fence on its border with Russia,

following Finland's example

By Jari Tanner around crossing points — are
Associated Press needed to better monitor
HELSINKI (AP) — Norway and control any migrants
may put a fence along part attempting to cross over
or all of the 198-kilometer from Russia and give offi-
(123-mile) border it shares cials time to react. Inspired
with Russia, a minister said, by Finland’s project, Enger
a move inspired by a similar Mehl said that such a fence
project in its Nordic neighbor could also be a good idea
Finland. for Norway. According to
“A border fence is very in- NRK, her statement was sup-
teresting, not only because ported by police chief Ellen
it can act as a deterrent Katrine Hætta in Norway’s
but also because it con- northern Finnmark county.
tains sensors and technology “It’s a measure that may
that allow you to detect if become relevant on all or
people are moving close to part of the border” between
the border,” Justice Minister Norway and Russia, Enger
Emilie Enger Mehl said in an Mehl said.
interview with the Norwegian The Storskog border station
public broadcaster NRK pub- is currently surrounded by a
lished late Saturday. A sign indicating the Storskog border crossing between Russia and Norway is pictured near 200-meter (660-foot) -long
She said the Norwegian Kirkenes, Norway, on Sept. 28, 2022. and 3.5-meter (12-foot) -high
government is currently look- (Lise Aserud/NTB Scanpix via AP, File) fence erected in 2016 after
ing at “several measures” some 5,000 migrants and
to beef up security on the Should the security situation crossing points from Russia “hybrid warfare,” Helsinki asylum-seekers had crossed
border with Russia in the in the delicate Arctic area to Finland in late 2023 after is currently building fences over from Russia to Norway
Arctic north, such as fenc- worsen, the Norwegian gov- more than 1,300 third-coun- with a total length of up to a year earlier.
ing, increasing the number ernment is ready to close try migrants without proper 200 kilometers (124 miles) in Norway, a nation of 5.6 mil-
of border staff or stepping the border on short notice, documentation or visas — separate sections along the lion, is a NATO member but
up monitoring. said Enger Mehl, who visited an unusually high number border zone that makes up isn't part of the European
The Storskog border station, neighboring Finland this sum- — entered the country in part of NATO’s northern flank Union. However, it belongs
which has witnessed only mer to learn about how the three months, just months and serves as the European to the EU's Schengen area,
a handful of illegal border entire 1,340-kilometer (830- after the nation became a Union’s external border. whose participants have
crossing attempts in the past mile) Finnish-Russian land member of NATO. Finnish border officials say abolished border controls at
few years, is the only official border was closed. To prevent Moscow using fences equipped with top- their mutual borders, guar-
crossing point into Norway The Finnish government migrants in what the Finnish notch surveillance equip- anteeing free movement of
from Russia. was prompted to close all government calls Russia’s ment — to be located mostly citizens.q

France’s new government pledges hardline stance on migration

as it cozies up to far right

By Diane Jeante and liament and efforts to pass ing countries like Germany,
Sylvie Corbet any new legislation are which expanded controls
Associated Press bound to be fought, and at all land borders earlier
PARIS (AP) — France’s new potentially blocked. The this month. Critics have de-
government is set to take a National Assembly is now nounced Barnier's govern-
hardline approach to mi- split between three major ment immigration stance
gration issues as key officials political blocs: the left-wing as strongly influenced by the
have pledged to significantly New Popular Front leftist co- National Rally's proposals, as
reduce the number of peo- alition, Macron’s centrist al- its survival depends on the
ple entering and staying il- lies — who made a deal with party's goodwill.
legally in the country. the conservatives — and the Far-right and left-wing law-
After calling for snap leg- far-right National Rally party, makers can force the whole
islative elections in June, the largest single party in the government to resign on
President Emmanuel Macron new assembly. condition they agree on a
appointed Prime Minister Mi- The new prime minister will no-confidence vote.
chel Barnier, a veteran con- outline his priorities in a gen- Marine Le Pen, the National French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, right, and French Prime
Minister Michel Barnier speak during a family picture in Paris,
servative from The Republi- eral policy speech sched- Rally's leading figure, said Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
cans party, hoping the Brexit uled for Tuesday at the Na- she would not seek to bring (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
negotiator would work with tional Assembly. down the new government
the divided legislature to end In recent televised inter- for now, waiting to see its A new interior minister to Retailleau shared this week
the political turmoil that has views, Barnier criticized initial “acts.” In a recent reign in immigration his intention to reign in im-
upended French politics in French borders as “sieves” interview with La Tribune- Barnier’s hardline approach migration. He said he would
recent months. and expressed concern that Dimanche newspaper, she is reflected in the appoint- seek to “reform” France’s
The Barnier government — “migratory flows” were “not said: “It’s undeniable that Mi- ment of Bruno Retailleau, a state medical assistance
dominated by conserva- under control.” He promised chel Barnier seems to have, fellow conservative known that covers health care ex-
tives and centrists— does to “limit immigration,” citing on migration, the same as- for his tough rhetoric on mi- penses for undocumented
not have a majority in par- measures taken by neighbor- sessment as ours.” grants, as the interior minister. migrants.q