Slovenian, Serbian leaders show concerns about a re-escalation in the migrant crisis

Record ID: 83998

  • Title: Slovenian, Serbian leaders show concerns about a re-escalation in the migrant crisis
  • Date: 24th October 2016
  • Summary: CERAR AND VUCIC LISTENING TO SLOVENIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM PHOTOGRAPHER CERAR AND VUCIC BOWING IN FRONT OF SERBIAN FLAG AND WALKING INTO BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2016 13:14
  • Keywords: Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar Serbian Aleksandar Vucic migration crisis
  • Location: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • City: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • Country: Serbia
  • Reuters ID: LVA00255D6HQ1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar expressed concerns on Monday (October 24) that a migration crisis could re-emerge as he was welcomed in Belgrade by his counterpart Aleksandar Vucic.
    "As you know, last year we had a very bad experience. Migrants were arriving from Croatia without control, unannounced, across the green border and because of that it was neither possible to control and channel that refugee flow, nor to offer them adequate assistance," the 53 year-old leader said during a visit to hold talks on trade and cooperation between the two countries.
    "With these fences, we channel potential migrants to certain entry points where Schengen controls will be carried out. Slovenia must implement all rules and evaluate who may enter Slovenia and who not," he added.
    Serbia was the central stop and Slovenia the final one before Austria as refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa sought to reach European countries.
    Slovenia built border barricades to establish control over the flow of the people.
    Though the Balkan route was officially closed in March, some European countries worry that another wave may arrive if an agreement with Turkey to contain the flow collapses.
    "In that case we must be prepared for demanding scenarios and Slovenia would have to design an extremely tight control over the Schengen border with Croatia. As you know, our neighbour Austria already controls their border, so we have to do the same," Cerar added.
    Despite a difficult relation in the past, the two countries now praise relations as very good, in contrast to the trend in the region, where many old wounds recently flared again.
    Vucic said Serbia would accept Slovenia's offer for assistance at the border if migration flows increased dramatically.
    "Regarding the migration crisis, we'll always be in touch. We'll work together and the Slovenian side is prepared to deploy some people (border police officers) to Serbia if necessary, which we accepted happily. Slovenians are always welcome on our soil. But so far we don't have that problem, as we're successfully dealing with all problems and issues. I hope there will be no greater problems," he said.
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