Montenegro Sends Army To Protect Albanian Border From Migrants - Defense Ministry

Montenegro Sends Army to Protect Albanian Border From Migrants - Defense Ministry

Montenegrin troops were sent to patrol the country's border with Albania over the influx of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and North Africa, the countrys Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

BELGRADE (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2018) Montenegrin troops were sent to patrol the country's border with Albania over the influx of migrants and refugees from the middle East and North Africa, the countrys Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Typically, the police in all former republics of Yugoslavia ensure border security, but the army can be called in to help in cases of emergency.

"Montenegrin troops will be used starting from today to control the border region and the state border with the Republic of Albania near the Bozaj checkpoint. Border security will be ensured by joint patrols of the police and armed forces that will prevent illegal crossings on the [Montenegrin-] Albanian border as well as other illegal activities in the border region," the ministerial statement said.

In July, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offered his Montenegrin counterpart, Dusko Markovic, help in coping with the migration crisis, since, according to the Hungarian leader, Montenegro was defending not only its borders, but Hungary and the entire European Union as well. The Montenegrin authorities have also said they were considering the construction of a fence along its shared border with Albania.

After the official closure of the so-called Western Balkans migration route in 2016, refugees now travel to EU countries through a new Balkan route, increasing pressure on the reception capacities of Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.