Macedonia Declares Crisis on Border Over Refugees

Macedonia said it was deploying troops on the border with Greece, in a last-ditch move to stem to flow of refugees into and across the country.

The aim was to enhance control of the border area, Ivo Kotevski, spokesperson of the Ministry for Interior, explained on Thursday.

"The decision aims to prevent any serious problems and threats to the local population in Gevgelija [the town near the Greek border]? and also to provide more appropriate treatment to the refugees who entered Macedonia and expressed an intention to claim asylum," he added.

Kotevski told BIRN that the border would not be closed and passage through "the legal crossing" would remain open. He did not clarify whether refugees now stuck on the border will be allowed to enter.

"We are aware that increased control of our southern border is not a final solution to the problem," the Ministry of Interior said, calling for an EU-wide response, "which will cover all of the countries most affected by the crisis and will share the burden of tackling the challenge with solidarity".

The government justified its decision on the grounds of greatly increased pressure from migrants on the southern border.

Over the last 24 hours, from Wednesday till Thursday, the Interior Ministry issued 1,327 certificates to refugees.

In the last two months, 41,414 foreign nationals have expressed their intention to seek asylum.

According to official estimates, the authorities have spent 800,000 euros per month just on helping police securing the southern border.

In the meantime, NGOs present at the border say around 1,500 refugees are stuck in no man's land between Macedonia and Greece.

The NGO Legis, which is engaged in helping...