Prague, Feb 11 (CTK) – The directors of the Amnesty International (AI) branches in the Visegrad Four (V4) countries jointly called on Thursday for the V4 prime ministers to pledge to accept more migrants at their extraordinary summit in Prague on Monday, February 15.
The V4 is comprised of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
The AI letter addressed to Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD), prime minister of the host country, was also sent to CTK.
It calls for the V4 prime ministers to clearly denounce violence and not to use the rhetoric that worsens the situation in society that is tense already now.
The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) also called for the Central European leaders to show greater solidarity with the migrants.
The AI representatives expressed concern about the four Central European governments’ stance on the migrant crisis.
They wrote that some V4 politicians contribute to building the atmosphere of fear and intolerance of the migrants.
They mentioned the Saturday attack by unknown perpetrators on the Klinika social centre in Prague whose activities include gathering clothing for migrants.
The UNHCR wrote on Thursday that it fully comprehends the fears of the developments in Europe which dominate in public opinion, but it is important to give a chance to the relocation and resettlement plans.
The AI representatives asked Sobotka to push for the V4 countries to accept more migrants. He should also appeal to the other V4 politicians to provide truthful information on the current situation and to not support the spread of fear and xenophobia in society.
They criticised Czech President Milos Zeman who, they wrote, further and unacceptably worsens the situation by his xenophobic statements about the migrants.
The same applies to Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec (CSSD) who speaks about the refugees and migrants as about a security risk, the AI representatives wrote.
The V4 summit is to focus on migration and cooperation of the V4 with the Balkan countries.
The summit will also be attended by Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
The politicians will also talk about a better protection of the Schengen border and the creation of a reserve border line along Bulgaria and Macedonia.
The AI representatives wrote in their letter that not long ago, a number of Czech citizens as well as inhabitants of the other V4 countries emigrated fleeing the repressive (communist) regimes and that they found aid in the neighbouring countries.
