First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today in Belgrade with the Republic of Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec.
After the meeting, Dacic underlined that Minister Erjavec had earlier today informed Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic about the Slovenian initiative aimed at resolving the migrant crisis.
“We agree with their suggestions – tighter controls and additional police forces put at the Greek-Macedonian border, but these need be part of a common policy”, said Dacic.
Minister Dacic said that, in view of the foreseen action by Austria, Slovenia and Croatia to impose a more stringent control of their borders, it was logical to expect Serbia and Macedonia to do the same.
“Our response will be dependent on the response of other countries on the route leading to Western Europe. No one can expect that we shall allow the refugees to remain in Serbia, or to admit them after being returned here”, said Dacic at a press conference following the meeting with the Head of Slovenian diplomacy.
Dacic said that “persons other than asylum applicants will not be allowed to stay in Serbia”.
“We would never treat the refugees unfairly, but we cannot allow, either, the destabilization of the situation in the Western Balkans to occur”. He estimated that it was necessary to coordinate cooperation among all countries of the Western Balkans route.
“Serbia calls on the EU to establish a clear-cut European policy. We oppose unilateral actions being taken by any state”, said the Head of Serbian diplomacy.
Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Erjavec said that if Austria and Germany imposed strict measures, Slovenia would follow suit.
“We expect a stricter border management in some countries. This means that countries along the Western Balkans route will become a pocket. Therefore, it is important that certain measures be imposed in a timely manner”, said Erjavec.
FM Erjavec estimated that coordination with the countries along the Balkan migration route was needed and that Serbia could play a prominent role in this context.
Due to the lack of a common European solution, Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar proposed certain measures to President of European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, as well as to the Prime Ministers of all countries on the Balkans migration route, said Erjavec.
Minister Erjavec commended the activities of Serbia related to the migrant crisis and noted that Belgrade was a credible partner in dealing with this problem.