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The migration crisis on the border between Poland and Belarus took a new turn on November 18 when the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, affirmed that he will return 5,000 foreigners to their countries of origin. But he also asked that the European Union (EU) take in another 2,000. Brussels, however, refuses any negotiation on this matter with Lukashenko, whom it blames for attracting the flow of migrants as retaliation for the economic sanctions against him.
Belarus puts on the table a plan to reduce the presence of migrants on the border with Poland, which the European Union (EU) rejects.
A spokesman for the Belarusian Presidency reported that the president of his country, Alexander Lukashenko, proposes to return 5,000 migrants, most from Africa and the Middle East, to their countries of origin.
He also pointed out that the EU should take in another 2,000 people stuck at the border crossing.
His remarks come after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Lukashenko agreed on Wednesday that they would move towards a negotiated solution with Brussels to resolve the crisis that has raised strong tensions on both sides of the border.
But the Belarusian leader’s offer was not well received by the European Commission, which emphasized that the bloc of 27 countries will not negotiate with Lukashenko.
“It is not a question of negotiating with the Lukashenko regime (…) We will hold technical talks with UN agencies, in particular with UNHCR and IOM and Belarusian counterparts to facilitate the repatriation of people who are at the border. it is the focus of the conversations and, of course, to continue trying to facilitate aid to the people who are there, ”said the spokesman for the European Commission, Eric Mamer, at a press conference.
🇧🇾 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 🇩🇪 German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed in a telephone call that #Minsk and the #EU should discuss the migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border.
Our correspondent @MChodownik have more ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/ZHsVZaNteB
– FRANCE 24 English (@ France24_en) November 18, 2021
When asked about the talks a day before between Merkel and the Belarusian president, Mamer pointed out that the member states of the European Union “have bilateral contacts with whomever they want, that is absolutely normal in diplomacy,” without specifically referring to the announcement. prior to a possible negotiation between Brussels and Minsk.
“The European Union creates a humanitarian corridor for the 2,000 refugees who are in the camp. We are committed to facilitating (as far as possible and if they wish) for the remaining 5,000 to return to their homeland,” the Merkel spokeswoman Natalia Eismont, who added that she would take the proposal to the rest of the EU leaders.
Poland had also warned that it would not accept any agreement with the Belarusian leader in its border area, if he did not first have his approval.
Both Warsaw and Brussels accuse Lukashenko of orchestrating the crisis, after attracting thousands of migrants to his country on tourist visas, then moving them to the border with Poland and from there causing migration chaos. Everything, ensures the EU, in order to take revenge for the economic sanctions that the European community has imposed against them.
Minsk rejects the accusations and holds the European Union responsible for the migratory flow.
First repatriation flight from Belarus to Iraq
Meanwhile, hundreds of Iraqis flew to their home country from Belarus on Thursday, giving up their hopes of reaching the European Union, after weeks of political and military tensions in which they were caught in the middle. This is the first flight of its kind in months.
Belarusian state media reported that there are no more migrants left in the makeshift camps near the Polish border, although this information has not been corroborated by Poland, after the Lukashenko Administration opened a heated warehouse for temporary transfer, Belarus does not want them to settle in their country either.
For weeks thousands of Kurdish people or people from Iraq and Syria, among other countries, have been trapped in the frozen forests of the border crossing, between the Polish city of Kuznika and the Belarusian region of Grodno.
At least 12 people have died in the area in recent weeks, including a one-year-old boy, whose death was confirmed Thursday by a Polish humanitarian organization.
Most flee conflict or despair in their nations and have the ultimate goal of reaching Germany or other Western European countries.
With Reuters and AP
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