FYROM news - FYROM Russian Media Propaganda: EU Gatekeeper, But Not EU Member

FYROM [***] has found itself at the forefront of policing EU borders while not even being a member of the club.

More than half a million migrants and refugees have passed through the poor Balkans country this year to a promise of a better life in wealthy Northern Europe.

The main transit point up to now has been the border checkpoint 59, near the town of Gevgelija, on the only rail link with Greece — the EU entry point for most migrants.

Hardly any of them stayed in FYROM [***], swiftly moving on to their preferred destination of Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria, as well as Germany or Scandinavia.

All of a sudden, the gate was slammed closed. After EU countries further north from the Balkans decided to admit only people from designated war zones — Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq — fences started to pop up along the EU perimeter.

Austria, who until recently had an open door policy, has begun installing a 3.7 km long fence at a border crossing with Slovenia, which is expected to be finished before Christmas.

FYROM [***] who has been an EU hopeful since 2005 without any tangible progress, has been left with thousands of stranded migrants.

The situation has especially escalated on FYROM [***]'s border with Greece where migrants scuffle and argue with police officers who are blocking them from crossing the border.

President Gjorge Ivanov has sharply criticized the European Union and Greece for alack of financial support and data sharing. Ivanov said FYROM [***] can shelter no more than 2,000 economic migrants in temporary transit centers.

"Any increase in these numbers will increase permanent and direct threats and risks for the national security of FYROM [***]," Ivanov told The Associated Press.

"The risk of possible conflict between refugees and migrants, migrants and police and army, or between migrants and local people is high."

Thousands of excluded migrants from Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Morocco, Yemen, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia and the Congo have been crowding outside the checkpoint, angrily demanding entry, whilst also blocking rail freight services and periodically preventing refugees from reaching the crossing.

Now, FYROM [***] is building a three-meter high fence along its southern border with Greece. So far, the army has erected 5 kilometers of the fence that will eventually stretch for up to 40 kilometers....
 [sputniknews.com]
 7/12/15
 ***[After the necessary corrections with the name "FYROM"]

***[GREECE recognized this country with the name "FYROM"]
***[UN  resolution A/RES/47/225 of 8 April 1993]
***El Kratos uses the recognized name FYROM.
By using El Kratos, you agree to the U.N. Charter in this issue.
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