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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Cooperation with Austria, Germany, Hungary on solving irregular migration problem

Belgrade, 2 July 2015

Director of the Ministry of the Interior Milorad Veljovic talked today with police directors of Austria, Germany and Hungary - Konrad Kogler, Dieter Roman and Karoly Papp respectively, about joint activities that these countries will take in addressing the problem of irregular migration.

Veljovic explained at a press conference held in the Palace of Serbia that the Serbian, German, Austrian and Hungarian police units will form joint investigative teams, which will deal with the recording and processing of all people who abuse false asylum seekers and transfer them from one country to another.

We consider ourselves part of the European community even though we are not members of the EU, and we are a reliable partner in solving this urgent problem. Together we will form and use a database - record the faces that come to this area, Veljovic said and stressed that Serbia, despite the increased number of migrants, is a safe country and that there is no reason for concern.

Veljovic said that today’s meeting was initiated by Serbian Minister of the Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic and added that the problem of irregular migration is not only the problem of Serbia and Hungary, but of entire Europe and perhaps beyond.

The Serbian Police Director said that other countries will also join to help in the resolution of this problem.

According to him, the idea is that representatives of the police of Macedonia and Bulgaria participate in next talks because the largest number of illegal migrants come from the territory of these countries.

We also have the support of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but I extend an open invitation to other countries to join, Veljovic declared and added that the Austrian and German colleagues will inspect the situation in the field next week, in order to know exactly how many police officers, together with technical equipment, will be sent to the border of Serbia and Macedonia.

He said that ten members of the Hungarian police with four vehicles equipped with thermal imaging cameras are already patrolling the Serbian-Macedonian border, together with the Serbian police.

Konrad Kogler

Police Director of Austria Konrad Kogler pointed out that irregular migration represent a challenge that affects all states and that, therefore, it is necessary to support Serbia.

According to Kogler, this support will consist of joint patrols, which are already in the field, and another contingent will be deployed at the Serbian-Macedonian border.

The intention is to organise a joint tour next week in order to establish facts on the ground, and after that we will successively expand police presence. Another element of support is the work on preventing the human trafficking, with the aim to reach out to the organisers of these activities and get them out of operation, Kogler explained.

Deiter Roman

Police Director of Germany Deiter Roman recalled that the police of Serbia and Germany, since the beginning of February until the beginning of May, had managed to jointly prevent the great migrations from Kosovo-Metohija, which is very important for all of us.

We are all on Serbia’s side and will never leave our colleagues stranded. I thank you on this initiative and good cooperation to date, Roman stated.

Karoly Papp

Police Director of Hungary Karoly Papp underlined that cooperation between the Serbian and Hungarian police is an example of good cooperation.

Papp recalled that as of 30 June, Hungarian policemen have been at the Macedonian border together with Serbian policemen and that Hungary provided mobile imaging systems.

Today’s meeting of police directors of Serbia, Hungary, Austria and Germany was opened by Minister of the Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic.