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            Slovenia PM: 'Urgent Action' Required for Migrant Crisis

   by VOA News

   Slovenia's prime minister told the United Nations Development Summit
   the migration crisis requires "urgent action" that addresses the "root
   cause" of the dilemma.

   Miro Cerar said Friday in New York Slovenia and other European
   countries are striving to resolve the crisis in Europe with "humanity
   and solidarity, but also security."

   "The global migration crisis, which we are currently facing not only in
   Europe but also in other parts of the world requires urgent action," he
   said. "First and foremost we should address its root causes and prevent
   further loss of life. My country, together with other European
   countries has intensified the activities in resolving the current
   migration crisis in Europe. The main principles of our action are based
   on humanity and solidarity but also security. We should pool our
   efforts in combating illegal migration and suppressing the trafficking
   of migrants and human beings."

   Border restrictions

   Croatia lifted restrictions on the main border crossing with Serbia
   Friday, ending a week of friction prompted by the flow of thousands of
   migrants across their common frontier.

   ''About 60,000 people escaping war and poverty in the Middle East and
   Africa have entered Croatia in recent days from its eastern neighbor
   Serbia, according to official figures released Friday.

   A global problem

   Speaking in Belgrade, a visiting European Union commissioner, Johannes
   Hahn, said the migrant crisis is a global problem that can be resolved
   only through the joint engagement of all European countries.

   EU President Donald Tusk said a "thread of understanding" was emerging
   among European leaders as they moved away from mutual recriminations
   and started to think about how to contribute to solve the crisis, while
   "protecting Europe from an excessive wave" of migrants and refugees.

   Tusk spoke on Poland's state TVP Info following the EU summit that
   decided to toughen border controls and provide more funds to help
   refugees in the Middle East.

   Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, however, said in Vienna that he
   would seek support for his country's efforts to block the flood of
   migrants at its southern border with Croatia, including sealing the
   border as Hungary did with Serbia. He spoke at a news conference after
   meeting with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann.

   The Hungarian prime minister said that whatever action his country
   takes will be "transparent." Orban praised Serbia's cooperation with
   Hungary on dealing with the flood of migrants, but expressed doubts
   about Croatia's compliance with EU rules on dealing with migrants and
   border controls.

   Meanwhile, German officials said Friday that according to their
   estimates, 30 percent of asylum-seekers currently in their country are
   not citizens of war-torn Syria, as they claim, but from elsewhere.

   EU Mediterranean operation

   On Thursday, the European Union announced its Mediterranean naval
   operation will enter the second phase of a three-part operation against
   migrant traffickers, beginning October 7.

   Speaking at the Rome headquarters of the EU operation, or EUNAVFOR MED,
   on Thursday, the bloc's foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini,
   announced the decision, saying, "The assets are ready."

   The three-phase operation, launched at the end of June, includes the
   use of military force against migrant traffickers, the seizure of
   vessels used to transport people across the Mediterranean Sea, most of
   them departing from the coast of Libya, as well as disposal of vessels
   and related assets, preferably before use, and the apprehension of
   traffickers and smugglers.

   Explaining the new phase, Mogherini said European warships will operate
   against traffickers, conducting searches, and, if necessary, diverting
   suspicious vessels, but only in international waters without entering
   Libyan territory.

   The EU operation currently has four ships and several planes at its
   disposal.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/slovenia-pm-urgent-action-required-fo
   r-migrant-crisis/2980221.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/slovenia-pm-urgent-action-required-for-migrant-crisis/2980221.html