'Unprecedented' mission for EU’s Frontex as it reinforces Lithuania-Belarus border

Record ID: 1627547

  • Title: 'Unprecedented' mission for EU’s Frontex as it reinforces Lithuania-Belarus border
  • Date: 19th July 2021
  • Summary: PERTAKAS, LITHUANIA (JULY 18, 2021) (REUTERS) EUROPEAN BORDER AGENCY FRONTEX CAR PARKED ON PATROL NEAR LITHUANIA - BELARUS BORDER FRONTEX LOGO ON CAR VARIOUS OF FENCE ON BORDER WITH BELARUS FRONTEX CARS PARKED BY BORDER FENCE LITHUANIAN BORDER GUARD AND FRONTEX OFFICER LOOKING AT BORDER FRONTEX CARS PARKED BY BORDER FENCE VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (JULY 19, 2021) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF LITHUANIAN MINISTRY OF INTERIOR LITHUANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, AGNE BILOTAITE, AND FRONTEX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FABRICE LEGGERI, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE LEGGERI LISTENING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE LEGGERI HOLDING FOLDER WITH DOCUMENTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRONTEX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FABRICE LEGGERI, SAYING: "Our role is to support (Lithuania) tactically with operational technical equipment, with more staff so we were talking about first deployment of 60 border surveillance officers. Maybe, if there is a need, we can beef up, we will gradually, deploy (more officers). And what is also very important is to understand that it's the first time that Frontex has to deploy such an operation in this region of the European Union, so this is also shows that it's the first time in history. So, what we are facing is something which is unprecedented." CAMERA FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRONTEX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FABRICE LEGGERI, SAYING: "This migration crisis was created and is fuelled by a political attempt to use irregular migration as, if I may say, leverage to influence or to respond to some EU decisions. In particular, the sanctions that were adopted by the EU about Belarus." BILOTAITE, LEGGERI AND BORDER GUARD OFFICIAL STANDING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Lithuanian) LITHUANIAN INTERIOR MINISTER, AGNE BILOTAITE, SAYING: "I have to note that I've spoken with some ministers, and Slovenia, Denmark have promised to send us some concertina razor wire, which should come to Lithuania as fast as possible." PERTAKAS, LITHUANIA (JULY 18, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FRONTEX CAR PARKED ON LITHUANIA-BELARUS BORDER
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2021 11:15
  • Keywords: Belarus Belarus-Lithuania border Frontex Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri Lithuania Lithuanian interior minister Agne Bilotaite migrants in Lithuania
  • Location: VILNIUS AND PERTAKAS, LITHUANIA
  • City: VILNIUS AND PERTAKAS, LITHUANIA
  • Country: Lithuania
  • Topics: Europe,Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EMIBQD5
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The head of the European Union's border agency Frontex said on Monday (July 19) it would reinforce policing of the Lithuania-Belarus border in an "unprecedented" operation as EU member Lithuania struggles with an influx of migrants entering its territory.
    The number of migrants crossing the Lithuanian border with Belarus has increased sharply this year to almost 2,100, including 1,400 migrants in July alone, after Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said he would not police the border in response to EU sanctions on his country.
    Under the rapid border intervention mission requested by Lithuania, Frontex will deploy 60 border patrol officers and eight migrant screeners and debriefers in Lithuania from July 29 to October 6.
    Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri told reporters it was the first time the agency had needed to deploy in the region, adding that the migrant crisis in Lithuania "was created and is fuelled by" Belarus.
    Most of the migrants are from Iraq, and Lithuania says the migrants are flown into Minsk on direct flights from Baghdad and Istanbul. Several migrants told Reuters their journey to Lithuania used these flights.
    The Lithuanian government allocated 5 million euros ($5.89 mln) on July 9 to build a barrier on the mostly unfenced Belarus border, but the construction has stalled as the country is looking for ways to obtain the wire for the fence.
    EU members Slovenia and Denmark will supply Lithuania with razor wire for the 550-kilometres-long (342 miles) barrier on its border with Belarus, Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said.
    (Production: Janis Laizans, Andrius Sytas, Karolina Bohacova)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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