This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/17/world/europe/hungary-croatia-refugees-migrants.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hungary to Close Its Border With Croatia in Migrant Crackdown Hungary Seals Border With Croatia in Migrant Crackdown
(about 9 hours later)
WARSAW — Hungary said on Friday that it would close its border with Croatia to migrants at midnight to control the flow of thousands of migrants and refugees across Europe. WARSAW — Hungary closed its border with Croatia early Saturday to stem the flow of thousands of migrants who had been making their way into the heart of Europe — just over a day after European Union leaders failed to reach a deal to seal the bloc’s outer borders.
The Hungarian foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, told reporters in Budapest that his country was taking the action after completing construction of a razor-wire fence along the 216-mile border and because the European Union had yet to come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with the flow of migrants. The Hungarian foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, told reporters in Budapest on Friday that his country was taking the action for two reasons: it had finally completed a razor-wire fence along the 216-mile border and, more crucially, because the European Union had yet to come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with the flow of migrants.
Speaking after a meeting of the Hungarian national security committee, Mr. Szijjarto said the government had told Croatia, as well as Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, about its decision to seal the border. For the last month, a migrant trail has operated freely, with countries along the route from the Balkans to Germany allowing those seeking asylum to pass through their territories — as long as they either applied for asylum or exited on the other end.
Hungary approved the plan to close the borders a day after European Union leaders agreed to improve border controls and backed a deal with Turkey intended to slow the influx of migrants into Europe. The arrangement has helped to avert the kind of humanitarian crises that erupted in Central Europe in late August and early September, when migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere began pouring into the Balkans in huge numbers.
Aid groups and refugee officials have warned that the closing of any borders between Greece, where many of the migrants first enter Europe, and their intended destinations in Germany, Sweden or elsewhere will quickly cause a backup of migrants at borders along the West Balkan route. That would lead to new encampments of stranded migrants behind blocked borders, as happened over the summer. Hungary’s unilateral move threatened to upend the situation, but other countries in the region quickly said they were prepared to take up the slack — for the time being.
A spokesman for the Croatian Interior Ministry, Domagoj Dzigumovic, said that there would be no change “for now” in his country’s practice of processing migrants and moving them toward the Hungarian border. Officials in Croatia, which had been moving thousands of migrants into Hungary since that country had closed its border with Serbia a month ago, said they simply would shift the human flow west, into Slovenia, which had been preparing for such an eventuality. Croatia and Slovenia insisted, though, that they would be forced to close their borders, too, if Austria and Germany decided to stop accepting the migrants.
It was not clear if Croatia was testing Hungary’s resolve or if it had simply been caught off guard. Slovenian officials said that while they could not accept an endless human surge, they had built the capacity to move as many as 6,000 migrants a day into Austria, and would continue to do so as long as the path remained open.
In a brief statement Friday after Hungary’s announcement, Croatian officials said the country had coordinated with Slovenia to create a new route for the migrants in the event Hungary closed its border. Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic of Croatia and his Slovenian counterpart, Miro Cerar, have been in close contact about the migrant situation, the governments said. Speaking after a meeting of the Hungarian national security committee on Friday afternoon, Mr. Szijjarto said the government had alerted Croatia, as well as Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, about its decision to close the border.
“In case the border is closed on the Hungarian side, Croatia will begin this plan in agreement and constant coordination with Slovenia,” the statement said. “The important thing is we expected this to happen and we are prepared for it,” said Slovenia’s foreign minister, Karl Erjavec. “Our goal is to assure security and order at our national borders and at the E.U. border and, at the same time, offer migrants a proper, humane treatment.”
Hungary closed its nearly 109-mile border with Serbia last month after more than 150,000 migrants entered the country from the West Balkans, en route to Germany and other destinations. Croatian officials, though, worried that Hungary’s move would cause a “chain reaction” of neighboring countries also blocking migrants. “If Austria closes its border, then Croatia must close its border, as well,” said Croatia’s foreign minister, Vesna Pusic.
As a result, the migrant flow shifted west, into Croatia, and until now people have been allowed to register and cross the Hungarian border on their way to Austria and beyond. Hungary approved the plan to close the crossing after European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to improve border controls and backed a deal with Turkey intended to slow the influx of migrants into Europe. But the deal with Turkey was not made final, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany is headed to Istanbul this weekend to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to try to reach an agreement.
Hungary’s move could shift the migrant flow even farther west, through Slovenia, which has been nervously preparing for that possibility. Aid groups and refugee officials have warned for months that the closing of any borders between Greece, where many of the migrants first enter Europe, and their intended destinations in Germany, Sweden or elsewhere will quickly cause a backup at borders along the so-called West Balkan route. That would lead to new encampments of stranded migrants behind blocked borders.
Slovenia has estimated that it can accommodate the passage of as many as 6,000 migrants a day, as long as Austria and Germany continue to accept them. A meeting of the Slovenian national security council was called as soon as Hungary announced its move Friday afternoon. Hungary closed its nearly 109-mile border with Serbia last month after more than 350,000 migrants entered the country this year through the West Balkans, en route to Germany and other destinations.
Mr. Cerar told reporters in Brussels on Friday that his country had been preparing intensely for another wave of migrants and that it was “ready to face the challenge.” As a result, the migrant flow shifted west, into Croatia, and until now people had been allowed to register and cross the Hungarian border on their way to Austria and beyond.
Slovenia has built 12 reception centers around the country, with up to 7,500 beds, but it has warned that it cannot accommodate an endless flow of tens of thousands of migrants. Slovenia has built 12 reception centers, with up to 7,500 beds. With winter approaching, the country is also scrambling to find sufficient heated accommodations for the migrants should they be delayed on their journey to Austria.
Slovenian officials said they had discussed with their Hungarian counterparts a potential change in the migrant route for at least two weeks. For months, Hungarian officials had complained that the failure of Greece, the migrants’ initial entry point, to control the human flow has shifted the burden to Hungary and other European Union nations.
Hungary seemed to have decided to close the border for two reasons: It finally finished construction of the fence along the Croatian frontier but, more crucially, Hungarian leaders were unsatisfied by the result of a European Council summit on Thursday in Brussels, where leaders agreed on a plan to address the migration crisis. Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has repeatedly called for a multinational European effort to intercept refugees at the Greek border rather than dealing with the influx piecemeal, at borders throughout the Balkans and Central Europe. So far, the proposal has found no widespread support in Brussels.
For months, Budapest has complained that the failure of Greece, the migrants’ initial entry point, to control the human flow has shifted the burden to Hungary and other European Union nations.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has repeatedly called for a multinational European effort to intercept refugees at the Greek border rather than dealing with the influx piecemeal, at borders throughout the Balkans and Central Europe.
“The European Council meeting has not resulted in any decision that would provide for defending the common borders of the European Union with European forces,” said Mr. Szijjarto, the Hungarian foreign minister.“The European Council meeting has not resulted in any decision that would provide for defending the common borders of the European Union with European forces,” said Mr. Szijjarto, the Hungarian foreign minister.
If Hungary follows the same policy it has put in place on the Serbian border, any refugees caught crossing the “green border” or tampering with the border fence would be arrested and subject to years in prison. If Hungary follows the same policy it has put in place on the Serbian border, any migrants caught crossing the border or tampering with the fence would be arrested and subject to years in prison.
Official border crossings would remain open, but refugees seeking to cross would be sent to a transit center to begin the long process of applying for asylum. Hungary plans to open two transit centers along its border with Croatia. Official border crossings would remain open, but migrants seeking to cross would be sent to a transit zone adjacent to the border to begin the long process of applying for asylum. Hungary plans to open two such transit zones along its border with Croatia.
Two transit centers are already in operation on Hungary’s border with Serbia, but only about 500 refugees have tried to use them, said Babar Baloch, a spokesman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hungary. Two transit zones are already in operation on Hungary’s border with Serbia, but only about 500 refugees have tried to use them, said Babar Baloch, a spokesman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hungary.
“If they are going to do it the way they have been doing it with the Serbian border, it will mean that no more migrants will be allowed through,” Mr. Baloch said. “This is not going to end the crisis or the number of people who are trying to seek safety in Europe. It may reroute the population somewhere else, but this is not the final answer.”“If they are going to do it the way they have been doing it with the Serbian border, it will mean that no more migrants will be allowed through,” Mr. Baloch said. “This is not going to end the crisis or the number of people who are trying to seek safety in Europe. It may reroute the population somewhere else, but this is not the final answer.”
United Nations officials in Geneva have said that Europe needs to act quickly to develop reception centers and accelerate the relocation of asylum seekers, as its refugee agency on the Greek island of Lesbos is struggling with a surge in migrants crossing the narrow waterway between the island and Turkey.United Nations officials in Geneva have said that Europe needs to act quickly to develop reception centers and accelerate the relocation of asylum seekers, as its refugee agency on the Greek island of Lesbos is struggling with a surge in migrants crossing the narrow waterway between the island and Turkey.
European leaders agreed at a summit meeting on Sept. 22 to spread 120,000 asylum seekers around Europe, even to countries that do not want them, and to set up “hot spots” to quicken the process of registering and moving migrants. But United Nations officials say the reception system continues to be overwhelmed.European leaders agreed at a summit meeting on Sept. 22 to spread 120,000 asylum seekers around Europe, even to countries that do not want them, and to set up “hot spots” to quicken the process of registering and moving migrants. But United Nations officials say the reception system continues to be overwhelmed.
“This is not a crisis at the moment that is adequately managed,” Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency, said in Geneva. “What’s needed is rapid implementation of what has been agreed.”“This is not a crisis at the moment that is adequately managed,” Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency, said in Geneva. “What’s needed is rapid implementation of what has been agreed.”
About 85 boats landed on Lesbos on Wednesday, and similar numbers arrived on Thursday and Friday, according to representatives of the refugee agency. They reported seeing up to six boats arriving at a time, most of them rubber dinghies carrying about 50 people each.About 85 boats landed on Lesbos on Wednesday, and similar numbers arrived on Thursday and Friday, according to representatives of the refugee agency. They reported seeing up to six boats arriving at a time, most of them rubber dinghies carrying about 50 people each.
The refugee agency temporarily evacuated the registration facilities at Moria, outside the island’s capital, Mitilini, after an outbreak of violence among the thousands of refugees, including families with young children, who line up there, sometimes for days. The refugee agency temporarily evacuated the registration facilities at Moria, outside the island’s capital, Mytilene, after an outbreak of violence among the thousands of migrants who line up there, sometimes for days.
“The level of anxiety and tension was very high, and things got out of control,” said Ron Redmond, a refugee agency official, by telephone from Greece.
To relieve the congestion and overcrowding at Moria, the authorities have suspended bus transfers for the hundreds of refugees landing daily on the north coast, about 70 miles away, leaving around 4,000 of the latest arrivals stuck in spartan waiting areas.
More than 450,000 refugees and migrants have reached Greece by boat this year, Mr. Edwards said, adding that Europe must act quickly to set up proper reception centers.More than 450,000 refugees and migrants have reached Greece by boat this year, Mr. Edwards said, adding that Europe must act quickly to set up proper reception centers.
“If it doesn’t work, and it doesn’t work quickly, refugees and migrants will take matters into their own hands and continue to move via irregular channels,” he added. The reasons for the current spike in arrivals are unclear, but Mr. Edwards cited a slight improvement in weather, and a rush to reach Europe before winter sets in or its borders close. Fresh fighting in Syria may also have spurred more people to flee.
The reasons for the current spike in arrivals are unclear, but Mr. Edwards cited a slight improvement in weather, and a rush to reach Europe before winter sets in or its borders close. European leaders who gathered in Brussels on Thursday did not endorse calling in troops to slow the flow of migrants but did agree on measures to achieve the same end. Those included the deployment of hundreds of border guards from across Europe to help Greece manage its borders and a sharp expansion in the powers and resources of Frontex, the union’s previously largely powerless border agency.
“We don’t know for certain what went on at the European Council meeting, but I have to guess that Orban and his team must have concluded that a decision on protecting the European Union’s external border or a deal with Turkey were still far-off,” said Attila Tibor Nagy, an analyst at the Center for Fair Political Analysis, a research group in Budapest.
At the same time, Mr. Nagy said, Mr. Orban felt pressure to follow through on promises he had made to Hungarians over the summer to crack down on the migrants after his government mounted an aggressive anti-immigrant campaign.