Prague, Dec 21 (CTK) – The government decided yesterday that the Czech Republic would send 25 police to Macedonia to help it deal with the migrant crisis along with financial aid of 20 million crowns, the cabinet´ s spokesman Martin Ayrer has told CTK.
The government also extended the deployment of Czech police in Slovenia until the end of next year. They were originally to stay in the country until mid-January.
“The Czech Republic continues to help the countries cope with the migrant wave in Europe. After Hungary and Slovenia, we will also send police officers to Macedonia where they are to keep order,” said Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD).
Macedonia asked the Czech Republic and Hungary for help last week, Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky (ANO) said.
Apart from Czech policemen, Macedonia wanted some useful items, such as tents and off-road vehicles. Prague might send them to the country in January, Stropnicky added.
In the past months, refugees have been mainly heading from Greece across Macedonia and the Balkans to Slovenia from which they continue to West and north European countries.
($1=24.947 crowns)
