Lithuania receives first Iraqi refugees family

The first family of refugees arrived in Lithuania's capital Vilnius on Tuesday from Greece, following the EU refugee relocation scheme.

The refugees were met by Lithuanian customs officers and border guards in Vilnius airport, news website 15min.lt reported. The newcomers are a four-person Iraqi family of two spouses and two minors.

The family speaks English, however, they did not give any comments and were redirected to Rukla Refugee Reception Center after required documents, including those for seeking asylum, were checked and filled in.

The family will be housed in Rukla for three months. Afterwards they will be transferred to any Lithuanian municipality of their choice, where integration assistance will be provided for another 12 months, ELTA news agency reported.

Algirdas Butkevicius, Lithuania's prime minister, said that support for refugees must be sufficient in order to help them integrate into society, nevertheless, "green house conditions" should not be created.

"We should not create excessive and green house conditions, we should not increase hostility within the society," Butkevicius said in an interview with local broadcaster Lrt.lt.

According to him, it is not the assistance money what really matters, but jobs, short stay in Rukla refugee center, cooperation of municipalities and refugee children's integration into education system.

"Much will depend on the society's understanding and sympathy," the head of government added.

The Iraqi family will be the only refugees relocated to Lithuania this year. During the upcoming two years period, Lithuania committed to home in 1,105 asylum seekers from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea.

Expenses related to refugee relocation and integration are being compensated from the European Union funds. Enditem