Russia, France lambast German chancellor’s refugee policy
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Refugees gather upon their arrival at the transit center for refugees near a Macedonian village before continuing their journey to Serbia, February 12, 2016. ©AP
Russia and France have criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door refugee policy, saying the strategy is a “total failure” and not sustainable in the long run.
“It’s quite simply stupid to open Europe’s doors wide and invite in everyone who wants to come to your country,” Russian Prime Minister Medvedev said in an interview with the leading German language business newspaper Handelsblatt.
“European migration policy is a total failure, all that is absolutely frightening,” he added.
Medvedev further noted that he attaches “great value to humanity” and wants “to help refugees” displaced by conflicts in their homelands
He warned, however, that “among these people, there are also many, perhaps hundreds, or even thousands, of thugs who have come to Europe on a ‘countdown mission.’"
"Now, they wait to be called and then they will act like robots against Europe,” Medvedev said.
Echoing Medvedev’s comments, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls highlighted “the limited capacity not just in Germany, but also across Europe, to receive newcomers.”
“This policy, which is justified temporarily, is unsustainable in the long term,” he told German regional media group Funke, Valls on Friday.
“We have to say this clearly: Europe cannot take in all migrants from Syria, Iraq or Africa. It has to regain control over its borders, over its migration or asylum policies,” the French premier added.
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