The Parliament of Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia decided today, Monday, to keep its borders to Greece and Serbia closed until the end of the year, until December 31st 2016. Reason for extending this measure was the migration and refugee crisis and “the increased efforts by migrants to enter the country’s territory,” so FYROM’s Defense Minister Joran Jolevski.
Last August, the Parliament had decided to declare a situation of emergency on its borders to Greece and Serbia. Later it extended this measure until June 15th 2016. In Monday’s session, argumentation was focusing on doubts that the EU-Turkey deal would bring sufficient results until June – therefore the extension of the measure.
Meanwhile, rumors have been spread among refugees and migrants in Greece again, claiming that “the borders will open on April 4th.” The questions is: what borders to which direction! According to EU-Turkey deal, return of refugees and migrants to Turkey is supposed to start on April 4th…
PS I ma not quite clear whether the “emergency at the borders” means “de facto closure of borders”, as FYROM had its borders open until end of February. But Greek media – Athens News Agency incl- give indeed this definition.
