Bosnia's tripartite Presidency member Zeljko Komsic asked for an urgent Presidency session over an alarming security situation in Bihac where clashes between migrants are becoming ever more frequent and violent.
“The events and activities of migrants in the Una-Sana Canton area have become an issue that can no longer be delayed. I'd like to remind everyone that these are persons who have illegally entered the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and who are now directly threatening the security of our citizens, with the possibility of escalating such a situation,” Komsic told Fena news agency.
Bosnia and has become an important transit point for all the migrants trying to enter the EU after Hungary imposed fierce measures preventing them from using the country as a way country. After it became known among migrants as a country that is best to be avoided, the migrants started entering Bosnia mostly from the direction of Serbia, exploiting the weak border control of both countries.
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As cities of Bihac and Velika Kladusa are closest to the border with Croatia, an EU member state, they mostly flock there, in hope of crossing the border and entering the EU.
Last year Bosnia recorded some 25,000 migrants who entered the country illegally in a bid to get to Western European countries. Most of them left the country, but some 10,000 are still residing in migrant centres across the country.
According to Dragan Mektic, Bosnia's Security Ministry, Bosnia can expect additional 25,000 migrants in 2019.
“The situation with migrants has become unbearable, Bihac is turning into a tragedy, and therefore I am asking for adequate decisions on this matter, like the use of the Bosnia's Armed Forces to protect the border, but also to use all other capacities to properly manage the behaviour of migrants,” Komsic concluded.
