Page 10 - ATD 17OCT,2015
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WORLD NEWSSaturday 17 October 2015
Hungary to close border with Croatia to migrants overnight
PABLO GORONDI the border clampdown
Associated Press after EU leaders who met
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Thursday in Brussels failed to
Hungary says it will close agree on a plan backed by
down its border with Croa- Hungary to send EU forc-
tia to the free flow of mi- es to block migrants from
grants overnight Friday in reaching Greece.
a move experts say could “We know that this is not
leave thousands of mi- the best, but only the sec-
grants on their way to west- ond-best solution,” Szijjarto
ern Europe stranded in the said.
small Balkan nation. He said normal border
Speaking after a meet- checkpoints between the
ing of the national secu- two countries will remain
rity Cabinet, Hungarian For- open, though inspections
eign Minister Peter Szijjarto will be tightened. “We will
said the border, reinforced introduce stricter controls
with a razor-wire fence, will to be able to block border
be closed from midnight crossings done illegally,”
(2200 GMT) Friday. Szijjarto said.
Hungary decided to order Although Croatia is also a
People disembark from a train in Botovo, on the Croatia-
Hungary border, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. Hungary clamped down
on its border with Serbia with a barrier on Sept. 15 and says it
will close down its border with Croatia to migrants starting at
midnight. More than 383,000 migrants have entered Hungary
this year, nearly all passing through on their way to Germany
and other destinations farther west in the EU.
(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
member of the European and create entry points for
Union, unlike Hungary it is migrants to manage the
not part of the Schengen influx, but would keep ac-
zone of passport-free trav- cepting migrants as long as
el. Migrants could still ap- Austria and Germany kept
ply for asylum in Hungary their borders open.
at two border transit zones, However, experts fear that
Szijjarto said. many will get stuck in Croa-
Over 383,000 migrants flee- tia, which is ill-prepared to
ing war and poverty in the provide for them in large
Middle East, Africa and numbers.
Asia have entered Hun- “There is no way Croatia
gary this year, nearly all can cope with ... accom-
passing through on their modating and providing
way to Germany and for the immediate needs
other destinations further for these people,” said
west in the EU. The coun- Lydia Gall, a researcher
try clamped down on its for Human Rights Watch in
border with Serbia with a Budapest. “Within days you
similar fence on Sept. 15 would end up having tens
and since then migrants of thousands of people in
have been taking a detour Croatia and further down
through Croatia to reach the Western Balkan route,
Hungary. in Serbia and Macedonia.”
Croatia will now start Hungary’s fellow members
sending migrants to its of the so-called Viseg-
border with Slovenia, an- rad Group — Poland, the
other EU country in the Czech Republic and Slo-
Schengen zone, which also vakia — are sending doz-
shares borders with Hunga- ens of soldiers, police and
ry and Austria. equipment to support Hun-
Slovenia said Friday it would garian forces guarding the
beef up border controls border with Croatia.q
