Mektić in Vienna: No mass movements of migrants through BiH, competent services monitoring the situation

Minister of Security of BiH Dragan Mektić participated today in Vienna in the ministerial conference "Joint Management of Migration Challenges", announced by this Ministry, Patria reports.  

The conference is attended by interior and defense ministers of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria, together with colleagues from the Salzburg Forum and the Group of Friends from the Western Balkan countries. By signing the declaration, the ministers committed to joint action and countering the security challenges posed by the migrant crises.

Although the number of migrant arrivals has significantly decreased, especially in the Mediterranean, it was emphasized that the pressure remains high and still represents a major challenge for the entire region. The declaration particularly highlighted the importance of keeping the Western Balkan route closed.

It was warned that migration routes can change quickly and that human smugglers can find new routes and exploit the desperate situation of migrants, and that EU and Western Balkan states should be prepared to respond in a coordinated and effective manner in such a case.

Therefore, it was agreed to develop a joint Action Plan, including a crisis response plan, which the heads of police and defense will complete by April 2017.

During his address at the conference, Minister Mektić expressed the readiness of the Ministry of Security of BiH to participate in the development and implementation of these plans. He also referred to the current state of migration in BiH, emphasizing that there are no mass movements, but that the competent services are monitoring the situation in BiH and the region.

“Law enforcement agencies occasionally discover smuggling groups that smuggle illegal migrants through BiH. These are groups of up to 10 migrants originating from countries of the Middle East and Asia, said Mektić.