Germany, Austria urge "hotspots," fair distribution in tackling refugee crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Austrian counterpart Werner Faymann on Thursday called for a quick setting up of refugee "hotspots" in frontline countries and a fair distribution of refugees in Europe.

Speaking at a press conference during Faymann's visit hereto, Merkel said Germany and Austria had been working on controlling refugee flows between the two countries, and that the situation had become "much more orderly" recently.

The refugee crisis in Europe, she stressed, cannot be solved through a joint management between Germany and Austria alone, but at the external borders of the European Union.

Merkel and Faymann demanded "hotspots" be set up quickly in Italy and Greece, which will be used not only as registration centers, but also as distribution centers and possible places where people could be sent back to their home countries if they are not entitled to asylum.

The two leaders announced willingness to provide support to countries concerned and Frontex to help secure European borders. They said Germany and Austria would promote a "lasting and fair distribution of refugees in Europe."

For his part, Faymann stressed the importance of combating the root causes of the migrant influx and the need to cooperate with Turkey in dealing with the refugee issue.

In an interview with German television broadcaster ARD earlier Thursday, the Austrian chancellor warned not to mix the counter-terrorism discussions with the refugee issue, noting "refugees are fleeing also from terrorists."

He called for enhanced international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Endit