In accordance with the conclusions of the latest meeting of the Security Council, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov had telephone conversations with several Presidents and Prime Ministers of the European Union Member States and states along the Balkan corridor, as well as with the President of the Council of the European Union and the President of the European Council.

In his telephone conversation with the President of the European Council Mr. Donald Tusk, with the Presidents of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Tomislav Nikolikj and Mrs. Kolinda Grabar – Kitarovikj, the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Slovenia, of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, Hungary and the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Miro Cerar, Mr. Bohuslav Sobotka, Mr. Verner Feimann, Mrs. Beata Shidlo, Mr. Viktor Orban and Mr. Bojko Borisov, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Bert Koenders, in his capacity of Chairman of the Council of the European Union, President Ivanov informed his interlocutors about the developments at the southern border, as well as about the details of the incident of March 14, 2016 - an attempt for illegal entry of an uncontrolled number of migrants and foreign citizens on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, stating his concern about the possibility of such incidents repeating.

President Ivanov briefed the interlocutors on the timely, successful and responsible reaction of Macedonian law enforcement authorities, without any use of force.

The Macedonian President asked for an urgent cease of the practice of bringing an additional number of migrants who would then set up camps on the very border line of the Republic of Macedonia. President Ivanov stated that the Balkan corridor is closed for illegal passages.

The Republic of Macedonia, stated President Ivanov in the telephone conversations, will take all necessary measures and actions to protect the state borders and to preserve national security, and Macedonian security institutions will continue to handle the refugee crisis as they did so far, in a responsible and professional manner, having in mind the responsibility for a humane treatment of refugees.

In addition, President Ivanov expressed gratitude to the countries that have sent their police forces at the south border line, and especially those who participated in the handling of this incident.

President Ivanov informed that the country will continue acting in accordance with the European Council decisions and will follow the actions of other countries along the Balkan corridor, not allowing illegal entry of migrants in the Republic of Macedonia.

All interlocutors condemned the incident of March 14, 2016 and stated that such incidents must not repeat. At the same time, they all expressed respect and support for the way in which the Republic of Macedonia has been coping with the migrant crisis.

In the telephone conversations, President Ivanov asked for political support by the European Union, logistical support by the European Commission for the institutions of the crisis management system in order to reduce security risks and protect the border; he also urged for an answer and realization of the requests by the Republic of Macedonia for equipment for border protection and registration of migrants, and he asked for access to the databases of the Union in view of exchanging data regarding the migrants with non-EU Member States along the transit corridor.

The interlocutors agreed that this practice of communication and coordination before European Council meetings, but also whenever necessary, should continue in future, because the Republic of Macedonia is an equal partner that strives to find a common European response to the migrant crisis.

During this and next week, President Ivanov will have telephone conversations with other leaders from the European Union, the Balkan corridor countries and other interested states.