The Army of the Republic of Macedonia will be engaged to assist the police in dealing with the influx of migrants. It would be engaged on the southern and northern border and along Corridor 10 where most migrants are transiting, announced today the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in Gevgelija where he visited the southern frontier of the Republic of Macedonia.

The Head of the State at the Bogorodica border crossing point was informed by the competent police officers about the activities and measures taken and the overall situation on the ground. He stressed that as a country, we sympathize with these people who were forced to flee their countries because of the situation therein. Therefore, President Ivanov said, we do everything that is necessary to help them while they are transiting through Macedonia.

"Since the amendments to the Law on Asylum, over 14,000 migrants have been registered so far. It will be necessary the police to be assisted because there is a need for additional engagements given that, in this part, it is about 50 km borderline where refugees come mainly from Greece to Macedonia. I as the President and the Government must take action to engage the Army to assist the police in dealing with these challenges. The Army will be engaged in protecting this part of the border, as mentioned about 50 km in the southern part, and to protect the northern part at Tabanovce. The police also needs to be assisted in securing Corridor 10 through which all refugees transit", President Ivanov said.

He pointed out that all measures taken by the Macedonian authorities are in accordance with the measures taken by the EU.

As a country, we will follow all the measures and actions taken by the EU and our actions will correspond with their actions. So, everything taken by them we have to be taken here, because lately there are threats of violent extremism and radicalization coming from the Middle East and North Africa. When it comes to national security, we as a country have to take all measures and actions that would prevent all adverse effects", President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President visited today the Bogorodica border crossing point, the station of the Ministry of Interior located at the railroad station in Gevgelija where certificates are issued expressing intention to claim asylum, as well as for illegal crossing of the border with Greece that most migrants use to enter Macedonia.

According to the latest Ministry of Interior records since the application of the amendments to the Law on Asylum of June 19 to date at 08:00 am, certificates expressing intention to seek asylum are issued in total to 14,311 foreign nationals. Of them, based on their citizenship, prevail nationals from Syria (10,336), followed by Afghanistan (1,182) and Iraq (761).

Since the commencement of the issuance of certificates to date, 32 requests have been submitted to the Asylum Department within the Ministry of Interior for recognition of the right to asylum based on previously issued certificate. Most of them (23) are also Syrian nationals.