600 MIGRANTS IN PRESEVO, 352 ASYLUM REQUESTS

17. March 2016.

Presevo – There are currently 600 migrants at the Refugee Center in Presevo, of whom 150 are children, says Aleksandar Vulin, the Minister of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs. He also said that 352 people had applied for asylum in Serbia until then.

Minister Vulin said that all migrants had the right to seek asylum in Serbia, but that nobody had the right to cross the border illegally.

He also said that traffickers in human beings had been arrested and illegal border crossings prevented, and that the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia was doing its job extremely well

“We have the largest number of arrested traffickers in human beings, seized vehicles and prevented illegal border crossings, "said Minister Vulin.

The Minister pointed out that Serbia didn’t encourage anyone to illegally cross borders or seek other routes. He said that the countries that were the last destinations for migrants had decided how they would behave towards refugees, and that Serbia would act as decided by the countries along the Balkan route.

“If Austria says that its borders are closed, then the borders of Slovenia, Croatia etc. are closed, too,” said Minister Vulin, adding that he didn’t wish to comment on the developments in Macedonia, that Serbia couldn’t solve those problems, because it was responsible for its own territory.

Upon receiving the keys of a vehicle for the transportation of passengers from the "Trace Group Hold" company, Minster Vulin underscored that it was important for donors to understand that all aid provided for migrants should eventually be used by the local population.

Thus, the donated vehicle, which is to be used for the transportation of migrants with special needs, will, after the migrant crisis, be delivered to the Center for Social Work in Vranje.

Source: “Tanjug” news agency, Radio and Television of Serbia and Coordination Body