Slovenia seals off border with higher fence
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Slovenian soldiers build a razor wire fence on the country’s border with Croatian, on November 11, 2015. ©AFP
Slovenia has reinforced border restrictions by installing more durable barriers along its frontier with neighboring Croatia as part of measures to prevent the refugees from passing through the country to reach northern Europe.
Slovenian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Vesna Mitric confirmed on Monday that the older temporary barbed-wire barriers were being replaced with more durable fences, “according to our plans, to close the Balkans route.”
She said the new barrier would be installed around tourist resorts, towns and transit sites along the border with Croatia.
Back in December, Slovenia installed 166 kilometers of wire fence to prevent flow of refugees entering the country from Croatia. Almost 500,000 refugees have crossed that border since October last year, most of them heading for Austria and Germany.
The new restriction has prompted anger among local people in Slovenia’s southern Crnomelj and Metlika regions known by tourists for its wildlife.
“They say it will not affect tourism, but you know, a fence is a fence,” said one of the locals.
Croatia has also banned the transit of most refugees through the country to seal off the Balkan route.
ME
