2 injured in migrants-refugees border clashes

A baby sleeps as migrants and refugees wait to enter a registration camp after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border near Gevgelija.

Clashes erupted on Wednesday when a group of refugees attempted to make their way across the border.

While Greece requested aid from European Union border agency Frontex for its sea borders in July, the minister reiterated a government position of refusing to allow Frontex land operations.

Violence had also broken out over the weekend as Macedonian crews raced to complete a three-kilometre (1.8-mile) fence on the frontier.

He said that “we have two weeks to make sure that this is seen, it’s tangible, it’s happening”, before the Commission submits a report on borders and migrant movements to European Union leaders on December 17.

Before Macedonia, several Balkan countries, including Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, located on the route refugees take to western and northern Europe had adopted the same selective approach toward refugees from some countries.

Macedonian authorities are allowing only people from the war-wracked countries of Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq to cross from Greece on their way to other European Union countries, leading to protests from those from other countries who have been blocking the crossing for all since Wednesday.

The harsh decision left all other refugees, hailing from various African and Asian countries, including a multitude of children, stranded at the spot.

Macedonian soldiers stand guard in front of a fence at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija.

“To divide people according to their nationality violates global law”.

Greek Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas said the government was trying to persuade the estimated 1,500 migrants stuck at the border to come to Athens and apply for asylum in Greece, saying there was accommodation available for them.

Greece “is getting pressure from some European states, which wrongly think it is feasible to control inflows at the sea borders”, Migration Policy Minister Ioannis Mouzalas told reporters in Athens on Wednesday, responding to press reports that the country has been threatened with expulsion from Schengen. He did not explain what Athens planned to do with refugees who resisted being moved. The continent has struggled to cope with the unprecedented stream of people.

Greece is at the forefront of Europe’s immigration crisis, with more than 700,000 people having crossed over so far this year from nearby Turkey, in frail boats provided by smuggling gangs charging high fees.