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Austria to erect fence at major migrant border crossing

Xinhua, October 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner elaborated Wednesday on her comments a day earlier that a "technical closure" at a major refugee gathering point on the southern border would take place, noting that "of course we are also talking about a fence."

The minister made the comments during an interview with radio program Oe1 Morgenjournal from state broadcaster ORF, after her initial comments that some "construction work" along the border to Slovenia at the town of Spielfeld, presently a major crossing for migrants heading to Germany, left the nature of the border control measures unclear.

She reiterated however that the measure was not about a complete border closure, but simply a precautionary measure should the situation intensify suddenly.

She noted that in recent days some groups of migrants have shown impatience and have acted aggressively.

In comments to the media ahead of cabinet she said she foresaw about 10 days of planning for the fence, which she said was not about surrounding all of Austria, and would of course have an access point.

She again stressed the tighter border controls would ensure "orderly, controlled access" in Austria, though was non-committal on whether it would be used to slow the influx of migrants.

That a large backlog of migrants could as a result build up in Slovenia could not be ruled out, she said, as the same has been occurring in Austria as Germany, the main target destination for the migrants, takes in too few migrants.

She also rejected recent criticism from German politicians, such as Minister-President of Bavaria Horst Seehofer, that Austria was irresponsibly allowing the massive influx of migrants through its territory and onward to Germany, noting that the Merkel government's decision not to repatriate Syrians had triggered the influx, sending a signal that Austria is experiencing the effects.

Neither Slovenia nor Austria is sending the migrants to Germany, she said, but rather they are "marching to Germany, because they feel invited." Endit