BUDIMIR: SRPSKA DOES NOT FACE MIGRANT CRISIS LIKE SOME PARTS OF THE FBIH

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 14 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska Interior Minister Željko Budimir told SRNA that citizens of Republika Srpska do not face the problems like those caused by illegal migrants in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of BiH or in Italy, because Republika Srpska's policy of not allowing migrant centers on its territory has proven to be the right one.

Speaking in a podcast by the Media System of Republika Srpska – SRNA, Budimir said that 914 migrants had crossed the territory of Republika Srpska this year, compared to around 500 last year. He stressed that, despite external pressure, the position of the Republika Srpska leadership remained unchanged: migrants would not be permanently accommodated or detained, and no migrant centers would be established on its territory.

"This position was of great importance for protecting our citizens and ensuring the survival of Republika Srpska. It has proven to be the right one, as can be seen from Europe's problems with the migrant crisis, including those faced by certain parts of the Federation of BiH," Budimir stressed.

He said that Republika Srpska should not bear the consequences of conflicts and instability in the Middle East caused by certain major powers, only for the migrant crisis to come back to haunt them like a boomerang.

"The police spend considerable resources on combating this issue, as well as organized criminal groups involved in migrant smuggling. In any case, our role remains to ensure that citizens of Republika Srpska do not face problems like those caused by migrants, for example, in Italy or in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of BiH. We will continue to do so, of course, while respecting all the human rights of migrants," Budimir said.