Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (72, CSU) discussed the current situation on the Belarusian-Polish border in a 45-minute phone call on Friday with the Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski.
Seehofer thanked them for the immense efforts and confirmed Germany’s willingness to support the external border protection and any humanitarian aid on site.
Seehofer to BILD: “We must not allow ourselves to be divided in the EU by perfidious political power games. The protection of the external border is in the interests of all of us and Poland is acting in the interests of Europe. We stand by Poland’s side. “
Seehofer saw it as a good signal that the Belarusian side is now ready to have aid supplies brought to the border region through the IOM and UNHCR. Seehofer also welcomed the fact that several airlines have adjusted their conditions of carriage for flights from Turkey to Minsk. After that, people from Iraq, Syria and Yemen will no longer be transported to Minsk until further notice.
Seehofer: “The decision of the Turkish authorities and the airlines is important. We save people from getting into these inhumane circumstances on the Belarusian-Polish border. “
▶ ︎ The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has announced that it will bring back those willing to return from Belarus.
Seehofer: “If the Iraqi government is ready, it could be a very decisive step towards resolving the situation in Belarus.”
Seehofer plans to travel to Warsaw in the coming days to talk to his Polish counterpart about further steps in the cooperation.
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