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Slovenia Starts Building Border Fence to Stem Flow of Migrants Slovenia Starts Building Border Fence to Stem Flow of Migrants
(about 2 hours later)
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia began erecting a razor-wire fence at its border with Croatia on Wednesday to stem the flow migrants as winter closes in and countries to the north tighten border controls. LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia began erecting a razor-wire fence at its border with Croatia on Wednesday to stem the flow of migrants as winter closes in and countries to the north tighten border controls.
A day after the authorities warned of a “human catastrophe,” a convoy of army trucks carrying barbed wire and construction equipment arrived in Veliki Obrez, at the southern border with Croatia, at dawn on Wednesday.A day after the authorities warned of a “human catastrophe,” a convoy of army trucks carrying barbed wire and construction equipment arrived in Veliki Obrez, at the southern border with Croatia, at dawn on Wednesday.
Throughout the morning, soldiers rolled out the razor wire along the Slovenian side of the Sotla, a river which forms part of the 400-mile border with Croatia.Throughout the morning, soldiers rolled out the razor wire along the Slovenian side of the Sotla, a river which forms part of the 400-mile border with Croatia.
Slovenia is a crucial part of the so-called Balkan route for migrants because its border with Croatia is on the southern frontier of the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel through much of Europe.Slovenia is a crucial part of the so-called Balkan route for migrants because its border with Croatia is on the southern frontier of the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel through much of Europe.
More than 180,000 people have entered Slovenia from Croatia since Oct. 17, when Hungary closed its border and redirected the flow of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia to Slovenia, a nation of two million. More than 180,000 people have entered Slovenia from Croatia since Oct. 17, when Hungary closed its border and redirected the flow of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia to Slovenia, a nation of two million people.
The wall threatens to cause a major disruption on the route, just as winter is approaching. Still, migrants have largely been able to find their way around similar obstacles, like the complete shutdown of the Hungarian borders, and officials are already looking toward Albania and Italy as possible alternatives for asylum seekers. The wall threatens to cause a major disruption on the route, just as winter is approaching. Still, migrants have largely been able to find their way around similar obstacles, like the complete shutdown of the Hungarian borders, and officials are anticipating that Albania and Italy could become alternative routes for asylum seekers.
Most migrants have moved on to Austria and then Germany, and Slovenia has insisted that it could manage the influx, which has generally been 6,000 to 8,000 people a day, as long as the number of those entering the country more or less equals the number of those exiting.Most migrants have moved on to Austria and then Germany, and Slovenia has insisted that it could manage the influx, which has generally been 6,000 to 8,000 people a day, as long as the number of those entering the country more or less equals the number of those exiting.
Austria recently said it could accept only a maximum of 6,000 people a day from Slovenia as Germany, the preferred destination for most migrants, started to slow down the flow of migrants and intensified the screening process. Austria recently said it could accept only a maximum of 6,000 people a day from Slovenia as Germany, the preferred destination for most migrants, started to tighten some controls and intensify the screening process.
As a result, the Slovenian prime minister, Miro Cerar, said that it was likely that many of the 30,000 migrants who are traveling northward from Greece could be stranded in his country, and that he had limited space and resources to properly accommodate them during winter.As a result, the Slovenian prime minister, Miro Cerar, said that it was likely that many of the 30,000 migrants who are traveling northward from Greece could be stranded in his country, and that he had limited space and resources to properly accommodate them during winter.
“It’s a big number,” Mr. Cerar said, adding that if Austria and Germany imposed tougher restrictions — or closed their borders entirely — as many as 100,000 people could end up in Slovenia.“It’s a big number,” Mr. Cerar said, adding that if Austria and Germany imposed tougher restrictions — or closed their borders entirely — as many as 100,000 people could end up in Slovenia.
“If we don’t act now, we could have a humanitarian catastrophe on the territory of Slovenia,” Mr. Cerar said at a news conference on Tuesday after the government approved the construction of the fence.“If we don’t act now, we could have a humanitarian catastrophe on the territory of Slovenia,” Mr. Cerar said at a news conference on Tuesday after the government approved the construction of the fence.
“The purpose of the technical barrier on the border with Croatia is to help control the flow of migrants across Europe’s Schengen border into our country and direct people to designated crossing points,” Mr. Cerar said.
He did not provide details about the length and exact location of the fence, but he emphasized that the border with Croatia “will remain open.”He did not provide details about the length and exact location of the fence, but he emphasized that the border with Croatia “will remain open.”
The migrants crisis has been the source of tension between two European Union nations that were once were part of the same country, Yugoslavia. Along the migrant trail, nations are watching Germany closely, as officials there tighten controls to weed out those not deemed eligible for asylum. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere of Germany also defended new measures on Wednesday to stanch the inflow of even Syrians, whose four-year war has driven tens of thousands to Europe.
A year ago, the country’s migration office agreed to accept written applications from Syrians seeking protection, foregoing the usual personal interview, Mr. de Maiziere said. But on Oct. 21, amid increasing doubts about the veracity of some claims to be Syrian, that measure was reversed, he told Parliament on Wednesday.
“We know that many people say they are Syrians, although they are not,” he said. “Some also come with false papers. Without personal hearings, you can only establish with difficulty what a person’s real origins are. All that troubles us, and that is why we must react. The situation forces us to adapt.”
Similarly, he said, family reunions would be allowed often only after two years, and in many cases only if it is clear that a reasonable standard of living is guaranteed.
“Moving to reunite only to find unemployment and a lack of prospects should not occur,” he said.
He promised that these and further moves would be discussed with the interior ministers of each of Germany’s 16 states — an apparent attempt to calm critics, particularly on the left, who were caught off guard by two Interior Ministry statements that outlined the changed policies without prior public debate.
He emphasized that “no one knows how many people from Syria and adjoining states will try to validate their claims to family reunion. But it is clear that we cannot look to double or even treble our high refugee numbers through family reunion.”
The moves over the last week were clearly intended to discourage more refugees from setting out on dangerous journeys to Turkey and by sea to Greece. So far, the flow of newcomers has continued.
The migrants crisis has been the source of tension between two European Union nations that were once part of the same country, Yugoslavia.
Slovenia had accused Croatia of dumping thousands of desperate people at random locations on the border, leaving them to find their own way into Slovenia and prompting the country to bring in the army to assist overwhelmed police officers.Slovenia had accused Croatia of dumping thousands of desperate people at random locations on the border, leaving them to find their own way into Slovenia and prompting the country to bring in the army to assist overwhelmed police officers.
For its part, Slovenia has complained that European Union leaders in Brussels have failed to come up with a common strategy to manage the largest movement of people across the Continent since World War II. European Union leaders are convening in Malta on Wednesday for what will be their sixth meeting of the year devoted to the migration crisis. Slovenia has complained that European Union leaders in Brussels have failed to come up with a common strategy to manage the largest movement of people across the Continent since World War II. European Union leaders are convening in Malta on Wednesday for what will be their sixth meeting of the year devoted to the migration crisis.
Slovenia demanded financial help, personnel and other forms of aid, but assistance has been slow to arrive. Despite pledges, less than half of the 400 police officers promised by European countries have arrived, and other help, like winterized tents and additional medical personnel, is only trickling in. Slovenia demanded financial help, personnel and other forms of aid, but assistance has been slow to arrive. Despite pledges, less than half of the 400 police officers promised by European countries have shown up, and other help, like tents for the winter and additional medical personnel, is only trickling in.
The European Union has given Slovenia 10 million euros, or about $10.72 million, a fraction of the amount the country needs to care for the migrants.The European Union has given Slovenia 10 million euros, or about $10.72 million, a fraction of the amount the country needs to care for the migrants.
The decision to build the fence drew sharp criticism from humanitarian organizations and human rights activists in Slovenia. Last week, an open letter accused the government of failing the migrants by leaving them out in the open, hungry and cold, while the authorities register and process them in accordance with Schengen rules.The decision to build the fence drew sharp criticism from humanitarian organizations and human rights activists in Slovenia. Last week, an open letter accused the government of failing the migrants by leaving them out in the open, hungry and cold, while the authorities register and process them in accordance with Schengen rules.