Terrorists and Extremists Lurk Amid Migrants

Fear of migrants is palpable in the Balkans. For nearly a decade, migration has been causing serious problems for local communities. Among the migrants are terrorists and men with extremist ideologies, as one Croatian politician pointed out.

Serbian police search along the banks of the Drina River after a boat carrying 30 illegal migrants sank on August 22 at the Serbia-Bosnia border. (Photo: AFP)

The distribution of migrants within Bosnia varies. Most of them are concentrated in Sarajevo and the Una-Sana Canton. The majority are men, aged between 19 and 35 and hailing from countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Although authorities strive to maintain order, conflicts sometimes erupt among migrants, often stemming from territorial disputes. Bosnia and Herzegovina plays a critical role along the Balkan route, but managing the migration crisis remains a significant challenge, and requires strenuous efforts from the nation.

Magyar Nemzet reported on a number of occasions on the fears of residents near the Serbia-Hungary border regarding the recurrence of past incidents, such as armed clashes involving migrants and human smugglers. 

The crisis has deeply affected communities in the Vojvodina region, where locals hope that efforts by the authorities will ease the pressure in the future.

 

A joint stance sgainst migration

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met in Slovakia in October to discuss coordinated efforts against illegal migration. The three leaders underscored the importance of cooperation on this issue.

Mr. Fico called the meeting exceptional and highlighted the correctness of advocating for the protection of the EU’s external borders instead of redistributing migrants. He thanked Serbia for its help in curbing illegal migration and expressed support for Serbia’s efforts to join the EU.

Mr. Vucic noted that, thanks to joint efforts, the number of migrants has decreased by 80 percent this year.

PM Orban emphasized the shared experience and responsibility of the three leaders in fostering regional cooperation. He expressed concern over the migration situation, pointing out that since 2015, eight million asylum applications have been submitted within the EU, and authorities registered 3.8 million illegal border crossing attempts.

We stand united against illegal migration,

 – Mr. Orban wrote, back then. 

Cover photo: Serbian police search along the banks of the Drina River after a boat carrying 30 illegal migrants sank on August 22 at the Serbia–Bosnia border. (Photo: AFP)