• Monday, 23 December 2024

Mickoski: Unacceptable to be taking in more Afghan refugees than richer countries are

Mickoski: Unacceptable to be taking in more Afghan refugees than richer countries are
Skopje, 18 August 2021 (MIA) — Opposition party VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski told Sitel TV it was unacceptable the country had agreed to take in many more refugees from Afghanistan than some wealthier countries, including rich Balkan countries such as Slovenia and Croatia. "I'm astonished at the nonchalance of the government in proposing this kind of politics considering that wealthy Scandinavian countries are taking in single digits. Some rich Balkan countries — Slovenia, Croatia — as well as some Baltic states, such as Estonia, are also taking in single digits of Afghan employees who worked for those countries' governments in Afghanistan," Mickoski said. "I'd really like to see richer European countries show more solidarity," he continued, "given that a small country like Macedonia, perpetually coerced so it can start the EU talks, can take in four, five, seven, ten times more refugees." "This is unacceptable for me. Not until we see examples of wealthier countries in Europe, and the world, showing true solidarity with the plight of these people can we talk about how many we can take in and be good hosts," the opposition leader said. mr/