Off the wire
• 2nd LD Writethru: Nigerian president fires military chiefs, announces replacements: spokesman  • Turkey on sound track to establish coalition gov't  • Kiev to launch probe into deadly shooting in west Ukraine town  • Hungary announces start of barrier construction on Serbian border  • U.S. stocks extend gains on Greece debt deal  • Urgent: Iran says nuclear talks cannot conclude on Monday: ISNA  • More foreign spouses granted permanent resident status in Singapore  • Team USA wins Gwangju Universiade men's basketball title  • IMF says ready to help in Greek debt crisis  • Basso to withdraw from Tour with testicular cancer  
You are here: 　 Home

Austrian president welcomes Slovak decision to accept 500 migrants

Xinhua, July 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Slovakia's decision to accept 500 asylum seekers on a temporary basis is a welcome gesture and symbol, Austrian President Heinz Fischer said after meeting Slovak President Andrej Kiska here Monday.

Fischer said Austria expects 70,000 asylum applications this year, with some 200 new applications recorded every day. Fischer added that Austria's capacities in immigration camps have been exhausted.

"It's with gratitude that we accept a gesture from Slovakia, which is an expression of understanding for the situation in which a neighboring country has found itself," said Fischer.

Kiska echoed Fischer's sentiments saying that the decision to provide temporarily provide shelter to 500 immigrants isn't a real solution to Austria's migration problems.

"What is important is to show goodwill and willingness to resolve the situation and to show that there's readiness on the part of Slovakia to join this program and help," said Kiska.

At the same time, Kiska admitted Slovakia isn't ready to accept asylum seekers, illustrated by the fact that only a few dozen immigrants were granted asylum last year. Endit