Lithuania expresses understanding for Poland's border controls
The Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic has said his country comprehends Poland's decision to prolong temporary checks on its borders with Lithuania and Germany until October 4.
On Thursday, Poland's interior ministry submitted its proposal for consultation to prolong the existing border controls with Lithuania and Germany until October 7. The restrictions, introduced on July 7, initially for a 30-day period, are intended to curb illegal migration.
Kondratovic made the statement on Friday, following a phone conversation with his Polish counterpart, Marcin Kierwinski, earlier in the day.
"We understand Poland's decision to extend the temporary checks on internal borders," the Lithuanian interior ministry quoted Kondratovic as saying in its statement on Friday. "To manage illegal migration effectively, it is essential to implement all possible measures."
Kondratovic said "the decision is certainly not directed against Lithuanian citizens - it is a measure designed to prevent secondary migration."
This year, the Lithuanian border guard has intercepted close to 1,000 undocumented migrants attempting to enter the EU member state through Belarus. Both Vilnius and Warsaw accuse Minsk of orchestrating a migration crisis by inviting tens of thousands of migrants, primarily from the Middle East and Africa, and encouraging them to cross EU borders illegally.(PAP)jd/jch
