Engagement of additional 180 police officers greatly improved Bosnia’s border security, said the Council of Ministers (CoM) at its session on Monday. From January 1 to November 4, the state authorities registered 21,163 illegal migrants, of which 19,986 expressed intent to claim asylum, while only 1,314 actually did so.

“Most migrants came from Pakistan (6,910), Iran (3,373), Syria (2,529), Afghanistan (2,431), Iraq (1,874), and Libya (760),” the Council of Ministers said.

They also discussed, and adopted, the information on migrations in the country and tasked the State Security Ministry to monitor the situation.

The Republika Srpska (RS) entity Interior Ministry provided additional 40 police officers to help Bosnia’s Border Police in protecting the most critical parts of the border.

The 500 migrants who are already on the territory of the Una-Sana Canton (USK), in the north-west of the country, will be quickly relocated to the Bira company facilities which will serve as a migrant centre.

According to the Council of Ministers, the International Organisation for Migrations will announce several public calls at which humanitarian organisations like the Red Cross will be able to apply for the necessary means.

The CoM added that Bosnia’s priorities remain the strengthening of the Border Police with the aim of preventing illegal migrant entry of into the country, strengthening of the Foreigners’ Affairs Agency and the implementation of readmission agreements and strengthening of readmission, and asylum capacities.

They also announced a more intensive fight against illegal migrant smugglers.

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