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Slovenia's razor fence designed to control refugees causes border tension

Xinhua, November 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The razor wire fence that Slovenia has started putting up on Wednesday at its border with Croatia to control the inflow of refugees has caused tension on the ground with a buildup of police on both sides of the border.

Croatia said parts of the barrier near Rigonce at the border with Croatia are in its territory, but it was rejected instantly by Slovenian government, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) reported Wednesday evening.

"The barriers are being erected strictly on Slovenian territory, and do not prejudge the course of the border, a subject of the arbitration procedure between the countries," the Slovenian Government Information Office (UKOM) was quoted by STA as saying.

The response came after Croatian Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic announced that Croatia would remove the barrier if Slovenia did not do so itself. He said that in erecting the razor wire fence along the bordering Sotla river, Slovenians had entered Croatia's territory, so special police units were sent there to alert them.

The UKOM reiterated that the Croatian government had been notified in advance of Slovenia's intention to erect the razor wire.

Sections of the border are disputed and the countries have tasked an arbitration tribunal to determine its course although the procedure hit a major snag earlier this year.

Slovenian Foreign Ministry also said that it has notified the tribunal the country is setting up a barrier on the border as a temporary measure, explaining the measure would not prejudge the borderline.

Meanwhile, a Croatian police official presented a notification to a Slovenian official at Rigonce crossing claiming the fence was being put up in Croatian territory.

The situation at Rigonce, a village east of Brezice which used to be the main entry point for refugees, is calm but tense, the STA reported.

There are riot police units on both sides of the border with police choppers circling above the area on the Slovenian side, the STA report added. Endit