Prague, March 17 (CTK) – The Czech Republic insists on the approved mechanisms to be used for the relocation of Syrian refugees from Turkey and the pact with Ankara, to be passed on Friday, should not increase the number of refugees, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told the Chamber of Deputies yesterday.
The Czech Republic made a mistake when judging that the war of Syria had nothing to do with it, Sobotka told the Chamber of Deputies European committee.
The situation of the Czech police in Macedonia is critical, he added.
A total of 27 Czech police officers have been helping their Macedonian counterparts deal with the refugees’ flow since February. Besides, Croat, Slovak and Austrian police operate in this country.
An EU summit will be held over the prepared agreement with Turkey in Brussels later yesterday.
One day later, the EU may confirm it along with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Under its draft, EU countries will receive one Syrian directly from Turkey in exchange for another Syrian who gets illegally to Greece and whom it will send back to Syria.
Turkey is to accept the refugees not only from Syria, but also from other countries.
Sobotka said he believed the “one for one” deal might contribute to the rapid reduction of the refugees coming to Greece.
“It should be cleared up on what conditions this mechanism can be implemented in harmony with the valid asylum law and international commitments,” he added.
It is necessary that Greece copes administratively with the plan, Sobotka said.
The Czech Republic is prepared to help Greece and it will offer it over 100 experts for the work in hotspots and border protection.
A well-working return of refugees is a precondition of liberalisation of the visa regime with the EU on which Turkey insists, Sobotka said.
The Czech Republic will also want talks about liberalisation of the visa regime with Ukraine and Georgia, he added.
Prague supports that part of the agreement with Turkey that relates to the progress on Turkey’s EU bid, Sobotka said.
It also demands that the European Council conclusion should include a clear appeal that Ankara should observe human rights and not violate independence of the media, he added.
Sobotka went on to comment on the situation in the Western Balkans where a number of countries had introduced stricter border controls.
“It is necessary to withstand this, despite all the problems, all the pressures, all the attacks on those trying to maintain some law and order at the border. At present, there are our police officers, too. They are in a very critical situation there,” he added.
Sobotka discussed the situation by phone with Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov.
“Ivanov informed me about the growing migration pressure on the Macedonian border with Greece and a recent incident with a large group of refugees who tried to cross illegally a river to Macedonia,” Sobotka said, adding that he assured Ivanov about the continued Czech help.
Last year, the Czech Republic pledged to accept 1,100 migrants from Italy and Greece.
European interior ministers decided last September that the Czech Republic should accept another 1,691 refugees from the two countries. Along with Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, the Czech Republic has protested against the decision.
