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Five stakeholders along Western Balkans route to establish standardized migrant registration

Xinhua, February 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Macedonian police directors agreed on Wednesday, together with their counterparts from Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, they would establish a standardized registration of migrants along the Western Balkans route.

During a press conference in Skopje, Macedonian Public Security Bureau head, Goranco Savovski, stated that participants in the meeting referred to the necessity to establish a standardization of registration procedures, and clear and common criteria.

"This process involves the development of standardized documents to be issued by all stakeholders along the Western Balkans route. Registered migrants should be filed in national databases, which includes a timely exchange of this data," stressed Savovski.

Police officials spoke about the current state of migrant flow at their borders, as well as the need for a common, coordinated and harmonized approach by all countries along the route.

"We agreed that swift and timely information exchange on developments along the migrant route, introduction and implementation of measures and procedures is crucial in avoiding tensions at the borders and the efficient management of migration flows," added Savovski.

Migrants without travel documents, carrying falsified documents, or providing false information over their identity or their country of origin will be prevented from transit.

Moreover, Savovski declared that "We agreed that deployment of foreign police officers at Macedonia's border with Greece is yielding positive results and will continue," adding the initiative remained open for police officers from other countries affected by the migration flows.

During the press conference, Austria's deputy­ police chief, General Franz Lang, stated that it was necessary to work together on reducing the influx of people with little or no chance for asylum.

"About 780,000 persons have transited over the past five months, with almost 100,000 asylum seekers in Austria in the last 13 months. Authorities have decided to reduce the quota of asylum seekers to 37,500," said Lang.

According to Lang, Sweden has 16 asylum seekers per 1,000 citizens, Austria follows with 10, Germany with seven and so on. Endit