In a series of tweets, Poposki claimed that the growing numbers of migrants at the borders between Greece and FYROM intensifies smuggling while it worsens the human treatment of those living in the refugee camps. He claims that only a united and humane EU reaction will be able to provide a solution for both migrants as well as the involved countries.
Those statements came after the effort, on Monday, of almost a thousand refugees to cross the river of Axios and attempt to get into FYROM via an opening in the fence separating the two countries. While three people were drowned, the rest managed to enter FYROM where they were intercepted by FYROM army and were captured. The refugees decided to make that desperate “exodus” towards FYROM after a flyer was distributed between them, describing in English and Arabic where, and how they could pass over to FYROM.
#Greece: Massive organised push today from groups of migrants to enter #Macedonia through illegal crossings 1/4 pic.twitter.com/OkqfH0VMUl
— Nikola Poposki (@NikolaPoposki) 14 Μαρτίου 2016
Consequence is clear: encouragement to use illegal border-crossings on the way to #Germany and other destinations2/4 pic.twitter.com/SGB9CQzjK3— Nikola Poposki (@NikolaPoposki) 14 Μαρτίου 2016
#MigrationCrisis: More migrants in deteriorating tent-cities at border line only encourages smuggling & worsens human treatment 3/4
— Nikola Poposki (@NikolaPoposki) 14 Μαρτίου 2016
The incident creates further confusion and difficulties in what is already a complex situation between the countries involved. In any case it is not a development which aids Greece, or in fact the efforts of the refugees as it allows those countries which have decided to seal their borders to claim that Greece is not able to control the waves of migrants.
The Greek chief of the Administration for the migrant problem stated that, should FYROM make a petition for the re-entrance of the refugees back to Greece, the Greek side will evaluate and decide on it. It should be noted that there is no formal agreement between FYROM and Greece for the re-acceptance of migrants.
At the same time, the Greek government is beckoning to NGOs as well as volunteering organizations to be in close contact with the authorities in order to avoid cases of misinformation. On Monday afternoon the Prime Minister presided over a meeting with all concerned authorities regarding those latest developments.