prijava
BIHAĆ, November 18 (FENA) - Representatives of the European Commission, during their visit to Bihać today, reiterated that the current priority is to close the temporary reception center in Vučjak, and to relocate migrants and refugees to more adequate accommodation.
"We all agree that this is an absolute priority, due to the upcoming winter conditions. This camp is not satisfactory by any parameter, and we must relocate these people to the appropriate space. An evaluation of two locations near Tuzla and Sarajevo is underway to form reception centers, which will unburden Bihać and the Una-Sana Canton (USC), which were initially under enormous pressure. I must reiterate that we are here to provide financial and any other assistance, but we cannot influence the work of any level of government in the country," said Michela Matuella, Head of Unit for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Directorate General for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
The need for coordination and proper management of the situation throughout the country was particularly emphasized.
"It is unacceptable that only Bihać and USC carry the burden of the situation with migrants and refugees. It is necessary to establish centers for vulnerable categories of people across the state. We constantly repeat that we are here to help, but it must be possible for us to work in the best possible way in order to help. We are concerned about the humanitarian situation, the lack of coordination between the levels of government in BiH, the treatment of the Croatian police, and indeed we are doing everything we can," stated representative of the ECHO Office in Brussels Martin Taschner.
Una-Sana Canton Prime Minister Mustafa Ružnić expressed regret that no one has taken the USC and its citizens seriously for two years and reiterated his opposition to any expansion of accommodation in this part of BiH.
"We have been warning for two years that this could happen to us, but no one has taken us seriously. I'm really sorry about that. I have made it clear today to the representatives of the European Commission and the European Union that we are against any expansion of accommodation facilities in the Canton. We already have five centers with full reception capacity. We definitely maintain our conclusions about the necessity of closing Bira and Miral, and then we can think of a reception center outside populated urban areas. When it comes to Vučjak, a solution for these people must be sought outside the USC and we will close it immediately," said the Una-Sana Canton Prime Minister Mustafa Ružnić.
(FENA) A. B.
