Migrant crisis in BiH one of the topics of the upcoming meeting of EU police directors

VIENNA, (Patria) - Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Austria Kemal Kozarić met with the Minister of Interior of Austria Wolfgang Peschorn.

In the introductory part of the meeting, Ambassador Kozarić emphasized the importance of good cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, and cultural fields, and expressed gratitude for the support of the Republic of Austria to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to European integration, as well as for the exceptional attitude of the Republic of Austria towards more than 160,000 citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina living, working, and studying in Austria.

Minister Peschorn stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries at all levels and highlighted the commitment of the Republic of Austria to further develop a partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially on issues related to the migrant crisis, which he assessed as a significant problem affecting Southeastern Europe.

In this regard, the meeting continued with a discussion on the migrant crisis, during which Minister Peschorn stated that, in addition to the issues of the Mediterranean crisis, the European Union must seriously address the issues in the aforementioned domain that affect the Western Balkans, and particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ambassador Kozarić took the opportunity to inform Minister Peschorn about the most important developments in the previous period concerning the migrant crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and acquainted him with data indicating that from the beginning of 2019 to mid-July 2019, about 13,000 migrants entered Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing that this number speaks to the seriousness of the problem facing Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The length of the border with neighboring countries, which is about 1600 km, the insufficient number of border police officers who face daily attempts by migrants to illegally enter Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the lack of financial resources needed to provide adequate accommodation for migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Kozarić listed as the most significant issues, adding that the European Union's assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in dealing with the migrant crisis is urgent and necessary.

The consequences of the migrant crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina have caused the most problems for the Una-Sana Canton, where the largest number of migrants are accommodated in reception centers, Ambassador Kozarić emphasized.

 

 

Continuing the conversation, Ambassador Kozarić asked Minister Peschorn to use his influence to ensure that the Republic of Austria and the European Union countries provide all possible and necessary assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in resolving the migrant crisis, which represents an extreme burden for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Minister Peschorn thanked for the traditionally good relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Austria, expressed readiness for assistance and cooperation between the two countries on the mentioned issues, and announced the full engagement of the Republic of Austria as the presiding country of the Salzburg Forum in supporting the resolution of issues related to the migrant crisis affecting Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Minister Peschorn added that a meeting of the Directors General of Police of the EU and the region will be held in Vienna in September 2019 to discuss border police cooperation, with the migrant crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina being an important topic. The Salzburg Forum meeting will be held in October, and one of the important topics will relate to support and assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in facing the challenges brought by the migrant crisis.