Röszke-Horgos border crossing reopened

Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter and his Serbian counterpart, Nebojsa Stefanovic, on Thursday reopened the Roszke-Horgos 2 border crossing.

On September 16, Hungary closed the border crossing after a group of migrants attempting to forcefully cross into Hungary clashed with police there.

Pinter said the reopening of Roszke-Horgos 2 means that all border stations on the Hungarian-Serbian border are now open. The minister said the damage caused by the migrants who tried to force their way in last month had been repaired “through joint efforts” with Serbia.

Pinter said Hungary and Serbia would do what they could to prevent illegal migrants from reaching western Europe, adding however that the solution to the crisis “does not lie not with these two countries”.

The border crossing will now be open to slow farm vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, Pinter said, adding that the two countries are working to open it to motorists as well.

Pinter said that if necessary, the government would allow trains carrying illegal migrants in the direction of Greece or Turkey to pass through Hungary. Railway company MAV would be willing to provide carriages to transport the migrants if needed, he added. Pinter reiterated that Hungary would not open a corridor for migrants trying to enter the EU.

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said migrants are still using the same routes as before to try to make their way to western Europe, which is why Serbia wants leading EU member states to contribute more towards solving the crisis. It is “impossible” for transit countries to shoulder most of the burden of migration, he added.

Stefanovic said Serbia is committed to maintaining good relations with its neighbours. It is important that residents are not forced to bear the consequences of the migrant crisis, Stefanovic said.

Photos: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters