European Migrant Crisis

[Amphipolis]

Amphipolis
That's a very Greek way of dealing with the issue.....denial and pass the buck to Turkey!

This is my opinion on what Greece should do; it’s not what Greece is doing. Actually, Greece has been doing the exact opposite.

Yes, we SHOULD pass the buck to Turkey, since it's coming from Turkey. Yes, Turkey DOES have the right to do something similar, depending on their laws and interests.

In short, if your neighbor on the left is throwing garbage in your garden, you should throw them back to him, not pass them to the neighbor on the right.

[Philosopher]

In short, if your neighbor on the left is throwing garbage in your garden, you should throw them back to him, not pass them to the neighbor on the right.

Not judging here, but are we to construe the above to mean that the swarthy migrants from the south and east are garbage?

Be candid.

[Volokin]

Greece is doing something similar and it's certainly NOT a good idea. Still, you're not Greece, so maybe you're indifferent to it.

I believe that according to EU law, when these people are spotted in Germany, Sweden, or anywhere in EU they will be arrested and sent back... to Greece. Not Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Syria, but to Greece as it is the first EU country they entered through. Then, Greece will tell them "Go where you please, again" and so on.

In my opinion, the most fair and practical thing for Greece to do, was sending them back to Turkey at the first time. An additional threat that they will be imprisoned, if they return for a second time, would be a good idea. Still, Greek prisons are already full of criminal cases of illegal immigrants.

Second paragraph is true, but as Macedonia is not in the EU, it is not subject to the Dublin Regulation.

Greece is in trouble because the asylum seekers that pass through get caught in the system. They get stuck in Greece, which wasn't there goal, and then create a problem for the authorities.

Like Greece, Macedonia, and any other Balkan state, are not the final destination for these people.

Telegraf, Macedonia: Govt passes amendments to law on migrants

16 June 2015

Skopje. Macedonia’s government has passed amendments to the law on migrants, Macedonian online news edition Telegraf reported.
According to the document, all migrants that register legally at the border will be able to receive a document on the strength of which they will be able to stay legally in the country for 72 hours or will be able to ask for asylum.
Legislation so far banned them from using public transport. They either had to walk or cycle in Macedonia.
It is expected the legislative amendments will be passed at parliament under a fast procedure.

http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2015/06/16/375516/telegraf-macedonia-govt-passes-amendments-to-law-on-migrants.html

This basically allows them passage through the country north, and then to become Serbia's problem. Short term fix but we'll see how it progresses.

[George S.]

If that's the cae regarding the assylum seekers then why did greece build that big fence from a eu loan of funds all around its borders wasn't it to keep the illegals out.That's why a country would consider its solemn borders and keep those people in transit of country shopping and high unemployment out.

[makedonche]

This is my opinion on what Greece should do; it’s not what Greece is doing. Actually, Greece has been doing the exact opposite.

Yes, we SHOULD pass the buck to Turkey, since it's coming from Turkey. Yes, Turkey DOES have the right to do something similar, depending on their laws and interests.

In short, if your neighbor on the left is throwing garbage in your garden, you should throw them back to him, not pass them to the neighbor on the right.

Amphipolis
Your response to my statement demonstrates exactly what I was referring to!

[Volokin]

Now they're coming in by bike! Syrian and Iraqi migrants cycle through Macedonia as they head towards Britain

Tens of thousands fleeing Middle East come through Greece via Turkey.
They cross into Macedonia, where they are banned from public transport. Ban means locals have begun to selling them bikes to make journey easier. They will then cross into Serbia, before going on to richer northern states

Published: 07:12 EST, 18 June 2015 | Updated: 18:48 EST, 18 June 2015

Every day, thousands of migrants attempt to make their way into Europe by sailing across the Mediterranean in tiny boats, while hundreds more will attempt to walk here from Russia.

And now thousands more are travelling across the continent by bike after being driven from their homes in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq by war and grinding poverty.

Fleeing the Middle East, they enter Europe through Turkey, going across Greece and into Macedonia, before heading towards wealthy northern states such as Germany and Britain.

Pedal power: Thousands of migrants from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are using bikes to travel across Europe as they flee war and poverty in their home countries for wealthy northern European states

Tough going: Hundreds of desperate refugees and migrants line the roads in Macedonia (pictured) as they use mountain bikes to cross the country

Pushed to it: While many of these migrants will have used boats, trains and cars to get this far, in Macedonia they are banned from public transport, meaning they use bikes instead

While their journey from their home countries will have seen them largely travel by car, train and boat, once in Macedonia they are prohibited from buying tickets on public transport.

Many opt to walk, following train tracks north, but three weeks ago 14 people were killed by a train after stopping to rest on the tracks in a narrow gorge, making others fearful.

Enterprising Macedonian citizens have set up stalls along their border with Greece, selling bikes to the migrants for between $160 and $225

As a result Macedonian citizens looking to make a quick profit decided to set up stalls along the border with Greece, selling bikes to help make the journey easier.

Now, hundreds of migrants can be seen pedalling their way along Macedonia's highways, stopping to rest on grass verges or underneath bridges as they go.

In a blog for news agency Afp, Robert Atanasovski writes that bikes are sold for between $169 and $225, before being abandoned once they reach the border to Serbia.

He says: 'The bicycles abandoned in Kumanovo are gathered up and ferried back to Demir Kapija, to be sold on to the next wave of clandestine migrants arriving from Greece.

'The Macedonian police turn a blind eye to these migrant cyclists and pedestrians - preferring to focus their efforts on people-smuggling networks.

'Macedonia is on the so-called Balkan road used to traffic everything from human beings to drugs and weapons.'

According to border agency Fortex, the number of migrants arriving on the so-called Eastern Mediterranean route, via Turkey from the Middle East, has reached 48,000 this year alone.

Authorities in Macedonia say the number of migrants crossing their border has quadrupled in the past four months as the crisis intensifies across Europe.

The migrants are a common sight along the route through Macedonia to Serbia, resting under bridges (pictured) or on grassy verges at the side of the road

Once they reach Serbia, the bikes are left next to the border, and rumour has it that they are collected and transported back south to sell to the next wave
According to border agency Frontex, 48,000 people have made their way into Europe through Turkey and Greece in the last year alone as the migration crisis escalates

Hundreds more have been pictured sleeping on the rocky seafront beside the Saint Ludovic border crossing as they await news on where they can travel next.

European Union leaders agreed on the need for urgent action after a migrant boat travelling from Libya to the island of Lampedusa sank two months ago, killing 900.

However,officials have been unable to agree on the form that action should take, and as a result tens of thousands of migrants have been left in limbo.
Macedonian authorities estimate that the numbers crossing their borders has quadrupled in the last four months, with many migrants heading to wealthy northern states such as Germany and Britain

A group of men with a child rest along the side of a highway in Macedonia. According to reports, the migrants often buy the bikes in order to let youngsters rest on them while they push
While European leaders have all agreed on the need for urgent action to tackle the growing migration crisis, the form that action will take has yet to be decided.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3128709/Now-coming-bike-Syrian-Iraqi-migrants-cycle-Macedonia-arriving-Greece-head-wealthy-northern-countries.html

[Volokin]

Serbian PM 'shocked' at Hungary's plan for migrant fence

There has been a sharp rise in the number of migrants trying to enter Hungary

Serbia's prime minister has said he is "shocked" by Hungary's plan to erect a border fence to keep out migrants.

Aleksandar Vucic said the four-metre (13ft) fence was "not the solution" to migrants entering Hungary from Serbia.

Hungarian authorities announced the plan on Wednesday, saying the wall would run the length of the 175km (109-mile) border between the countries.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Hungary could not wait for the EU to find a solution to immigration.

Speaking on TV during a visit to Oslo, Mr Vucic said: "I am surprised and shocked. We will discuss this decision with our Hungarian colleagues.

"Building walls is not the solution. Serbia can't be responsible for the situation created by the migrants, we are just a transit country. Is Serbia responsible for the crisis in Syria?"

Mr Vucic said he intended to discuss the move with Serbia's partners in the EU.

There was also criticism from the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muiznieks, who described the planned fence as "ill-advised."

There has been a sharp rise in the number of migrants and asylum seekers entering Hungary in 2015.

The government said about 54,000 migrants entered the country so far this year, compared to 43,000 people in 2014.

'Physical closure'

Police registered 10,000 people illegally going over the border in January alone.

However, tens of thousands of Hungarians have also been leaving the country.
Mr Szijjarto (left) said that the fence will be four metres high and will stretch across the border with Serbia

Kosovo citizens are by far the largest group of asylum seekers in Hungary, data from the EU's Eurostat agency shows.

In January-March 2015 Hungary had 32,810 new asylum applicants, 22,830 of them from Kosovo. Hungary had the second-highest number of applicants in the EU after Germany, which had 73,120.

Kosovo asylum seekers are often treated as economic migrants fleeing poverty, rather than as genuine refugees.

"Immigration is one of the most serious problems facing the European Union today," Mr Szijjarto told a news conference on Wednesday.

"We are talking about a stretch of border 175km long, whose physical closure can happen with a four-metre high fence. The interior minister received an instruction to prepare that."

Mr Szijjarto said that the fence will not contravene any of Hungary's international obligations and that the plan will be prepared by next week.

Critics say the announcement is the latest anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Hungarian government.
Many of the anti-immigration posters have been defaced

A recent government billboard campaign with messages such as "If you come to Hungary, don't take the jobs of Hungarians!" has caused controversy - and prompted the UN to prepare its own billboards highlighting refugees who have successfully integrated into Hungarian society.

The poster campaign is part of the government's efforts to win public support for tough new immigration laws that are expected soon.

Hungarian officials have said that the billboards were part of a voter survey on immigration that was sent to eight million Hungarians.

The immigration questionnaire asked people whether they agreed that immigrants endangered their livelihoods and spread terrorism.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33168125

Yeah I wonder why Serbia is angry at this....

Hungary builds a fence, they get stuck in Serbia. Serbia builds a fence, they get stuck in Macedonia. Building fences to keep out refugees is not the right way of dealing with the crisis.

It's a really difficult issue.

[Amphipolis]

Not judging here, but are we to construe the above to mean that the swarthy migrants from the south and east are garbage?

Only for those who want to dispose them. The law has a clear position, but most governments (including former and present Greek one) don't have a clear position.

Some might imply that every economy needs a number of slaves, people who are not only a sub-proletariat but will not have the basic rights as they will be illegal.

[George S.]

Wiuth so much unemployment in the Balkan area such as 30% is it wise to take these immigrants even if they got 72 hours to decide.The thing is they keep coming back over and over until someone accepts them.The only way is to strengthen borders.No body wants them anymore.

[DedoAleko]

Migrants transiting through Macedonia

This is alarming!Must see photos in the link below.

Migrants transiting through Macedonia jam trains

GEVGELIJA, Macedonia (AP) — Pushing and shoving each other, hundreds of migrants trying to get to Serbia overflowed the train platforms of this southern Macedonian town, near the border with greece, on Saturday.

The migrants, mostly from the Middle East but also from Afghanistan, want to arrive in Serbia, the last country that stands between them and a European Union member state, Hungary.

The route partly avoids deadly boat crossings in the Mediterranean and is becoming increasingly popular among migrants desperate to gain asylum in Europe. Migrants either travel from Turkey to greece by boat, or to Bulgaria by land, and from there on they move to Macedonia and Serbia. Along the way, they often fall prey to people smugglers and criminal gangs.

The migrants have taken to the trains because they are the cheapest mode of transport and because they save the money they would normally hand over to smugglers, who bundle as many as possible into cars and trucks, sometimes with fatal results.

Chaotic scenes ensued at Gevgelija railway station as the migrants try to secure a place onboard the train that will take them to the border with Serbia. Tempers flared at the ticket booths and the platform. Those who had not secured platform space early, or who had sought shelter from the blazing sun in idle cargo wagons, darted in front of the oncoming train, some with children in tow, to gain a foothold.

Soon the train, packed through the rafters with people, departed the station. But many were left on the platform, waiting for the next train.

Macedonian authorities provide 3-day transit visas so that migrants are not left stranded in the country. But it is up to the migrants to make the border crossing by whatever means.

The migrants' urgency to reach Europe has become more pronounced as they race to reach Hungary before the Hungarian government finishes building a razor-wire fence.

Some 1,000 migrants per day were trying to cross before Hungary announced plans for the fence a few months ago.

That number has shot up to 1,500.

source and photos

[George S.]

Yeah I saw that on tv if you are lax that's what you getPeople are just plain country shopping.

[Phoenix]

The Europeans should send the refugees to the US, seeing that the US is predominantly the reason those poor souls are displaced...

[DedoAleko]

Slovakia will take in 200 Syrian refugees, but they have to be Christian



Refugees, mostly Syrians, walk through fields in northern Greece as they travel toward the Macedonian border on Aug. 13. (Joe Sinclair/AFP via Getty Images)

Here's a stark illustration of Europe's migration crisis: The Slovakian government recently announced that it would help share the burden of the influx of tens of thousands of migrants into Europe by taking in 200 Syrian refugees. That's a small number, but it was made all the more glaring by another stipulation — these refugees had to be Christian.

"In Slovakia, we don’t have mosques," an Interior Ministry spokesman told the Wall Street Journal. Therefore, the official said, "we only want to choose the Christians."

[Syrian war creates more than 4 million refugees, U.N. says]

International organizations and humanitarian groups have in recent months sounded a warning on the gravity of the refugee crisis. Last month, the United Nations announced that the Syrian civil war had forced more than 4 million Syrians to flee their country. Hundreds of thousands have attempted to find sanctuary in Europe, many braving perilous crossings over the Mediterranean.

On Tuesday, the European Union's border agency reported that 107,500 migrants had crossed into the E.U. in July, a record figure that was triple the number of crossings reported in July 2014.

One of the major havens for these refugees is Austria, which has the highest number of asylum-seekers per capita in Europe. It is projected to see 80,000 migrants arrive this year alone.

Neighboring Slovakia has been pressured by European Union officials in Brussels to help share the burden, but its government, like those of other Central and Eastern European states, has bristled at the demands. From Estonia to Hungary to the Czech Republic, politicians, particularly from right-wing parties, have voiced opposition to accommodating the influx.

"Left-wing policies have led to illegal immigrants flooding Europe, threatening European countries with an unprecedented social, economic, cultural and security conflict," said a statement last week from the ruling conservative, nationalist party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

[Hungary's response to the migrant crisis? A massive fence.]

Orban's government plans to build a vast barrier along its border with Serbia to better keep migrants out.

The cultural complaint — that, unlike societies in Western and Northern Europe, these nations are less able to adjust to multiculturalism — is most common.

In the Czech Republic, a group called the Bloc Against Islam collected 145,000 signatures for a petition against Muslim immigrants, according to the German DPA news agency.

Although Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the population of many of these Eastern European states, the paranoia over their presence has led to a spike in protests and bigoted rhetoric. Earlier this year, a leading far-right Czech politician encouraged his countrymen to breed piglets and walk the animals near mosques.

Czech President Milos Zeman was more moderate in his rhetoric, but the subtext was clear. "Refugees from a completely different cultural background would not be in a good position in the Czech Republic," he was recently quoted as saying by a spokesman.

As the Journal reports, Zeman's Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, has made similar noises. When explaining to an Austrian newspaper last week why the number of migrants his country would take in was far fewer than the 1,100 requested by Brussels, he said it wasn't Slovakia's responsibility to welcome the refugees of conflicts his country had no role in fighting.

"I only have one question: Who bombed Libya?" said Fico, referring to the 2011 NATO intervention against the regime of Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi. "Who created problems in North Africa? Slovakia? No."

That argument is reinforced by public opinion. A Slovak village near the capital, Bratislava, recently held a referendum on whether to temporarily house 500 asylum-seekers in a nearby facility. Ninety-seven percent voted no.

It's clear that cultural concerns underlie this opposition. They were voiced by Fico himself in January.

"Since Slovakia is a Christian country, we cannot tolerate an influx of 300,000-400,000 Muslim immigrants who would like to start building mosques all over our land and trying to change the nature, culture and values of the state," he said.

izvor: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...-be-christian/

Some articles speculate with numbers that millions of refugees are going to flood Europe.

[777Bitola]

When I went to Macedonia this summer I saw a group of them in my families village, this particular group actually looked modern and wealthy and was only men a few miles away they were stopped by police.

From what people tell me, the police take there money and send them back to the border. All the muslims surely will assimilate into European culture and not cause problems in the future because muslims are the most peaceful people on the planet.

[Risto the Great]

From what people tell me, the police take there money and send them back to the border.

Then they would be arseholes.