EU and Macedonia urge for coordination to handle refugee crisis

European Council President Donald Tusk visited Macedonia on Wednesday in an effort to achieve a common European solution for the refugee and migrant crisis.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Tusk agreed on the need for an urgent, coordinated action of all crisis-affected countries and unified European response to the challenge.

"We demand and expect a decision by European Council and we do not have the slightest interest the entire burden to be put only on Greece, but we will not allow realization of one-sided solutions that will be at our peril. Furthermore, Macedonia will cooperate with her southern neighbor to overcome the challenges of the migrant crisis," said Ivanov.

He warned that attempts to force entry into Macedonia are increasing, as well as the use of forged passports and documents of FRONTEX, a European Union agency set up to manage the cooperation between national border guards securing its external borders, and violence against the security forces on the border, which calls into question not only national security but also the regional stability.

Ivanov pointed out that in case of closure of the Balkan migration corridor, Macedonia will take all measures for the humane treatment of migrants in transit, and protection of state borders and the preservation of the national security.

"Macedonia has shown it is ready for all scenarios and will not allow increasing security risks of the migrant crisis," stated the Macedonian President. Ivanov also reaffirmed that Macedonia will not allow construction of refugee camps.

Tusk's visit to Macedonia is part of a tour of the main countries of the Western Balkans migrant route, which aimed at facilitating a European consensus on how to handle the migration crisis. Enditem