Macedonia still transit country for migrants: minister

SKOPJE, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski said Thursday that the Western Balkans route is still active and that Macedonia remains a transit country.

Spasovski made his remarks during a meeting of the Migration, Asylum and Regional Refugee Initiative (MARRI) in Skopje.

"Unfortunately, after the official closing of the routes, a large number of migrant smugglers appeared and most often migrants are victims and abused by them, some even ending as victims of human trafficking," said Spasovski.

Between 800,000 and 1,000,000 persons transited through Macedonia during 2015 and in the first half of 2016, according to Spasovski.

He said the Macedonian government has the obligation to provide adequate protection and assistance while the migrants stay in the territory of Macedonia.

Spasovscki recalled that Macedonia is working on the laws for international and provisional protection, as well as on the law on foreigners, taking into account provisions from the European legislation and the best practices from European Union (EU) member states.

Meanwhile, MARRI director Tamara Mugosa said that regional priorities need to be defined in the coming period, along with the implementation of reforms in communication, coordination, and cooperation between governments and administration of member states.

Moreover, Mugosa added that a joint database on legal migration is set up, with MARRI members having an overview on people's movements in that area, primarily in economic migration.

MARRI was established in 2004 in the context of the Stability Pact for South East Europe in 2004. It is the only regional initiative on migration issues whose members are Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Enditem