Macedonia criticizes European Union over migrant crisis

Last week, Slovenia declared it would only grant passage to those fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and that all others would be deemed “economic migrants” and sent back.

He stressed that like any other country, Macedonia has the right and obligation to secure its border, while efficient management of the crisis requires from all countries within the transit route to cooperate and have efficient coordination.

Citing Greek police, Tanjug and Bgnes both reported that around 1,300 migrants had been held up at the Idomeni border crossing between Greece and Macedonia. I can not go back.

Protesters are mainly from other African and Asian countries such as Libya, Somalia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Iran and Pakistan, who were not allowed to enter the territory of Macedonia, with the argument that they do not come from countries in crisis.

The security measures to control the migrant flow were strengthened after it was discovered that at least one of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks in Paris probably used the so-called Balkan migrant wave through Greece-Macedonia-Serbia-Croatia to reach France.

Human rights groups have criticised the policy, saying that asylum should be granted on merit, not on the basis of nationality.

“To classify a whole nation as economic migrants is not a principle recognised in global law”, said Rados Djurovic, director of the Belgrade-based Asylum Protection Centre.

Concerns over chaotic scenes at borders across Europe continues.

While sympathy has been high for people caught up in the civil war in Syria, a few commentators have asked whether people from countries where there is no war should be treated as refugees.

It has emerged that two suicide bombers involved in the attacks took the same trail, arriving by boat in Greece and then travelling north across the Balkans.

A man sews shut the mouth of a migrant who claimed to be from Iran near Gevgelija at Greek-Macedonian border.

A group of Bangladeshis had stripped to the waist and composed mottos in red paint on their torsos. “Shoot them Syrians, we never go back”, read one.