Thousands take part in pro-refugee rallies in European capitals
13 Sept 2015 4:17 AM IST
The Europe-wide “day of action” includes dozens of events across several nations with the biggest demonstration expected in London. There are also rival anti-migrant events due to take place, notably in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
The biggest mass migration since World War II has divided Europe with Germany pushing for compulsory quotas within the Europe Union but eastern European nations snubbing the proposal. Pressing his Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovakian counterparts at a meeting in Prague, Germany’s foreign minister on Friday warned the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants could be “the biggest challenge for the EU in its history”.
“If we are united in describing the situation as such, we should be united that such a challenge is not manageable for a single country,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, calling for “European solidarity”.
The International Organization for Migration said over 430,000 migrants and refugees had crossed the Mediterranean to Europe so far in 2015, with 2,748 dying or going missing en route.
Germany has taken the lion’s share, admitting 450,000 refugees so far this year, most of them fleeing violence in the Middle East -- particularly Syria -- and Asia.
But Steinmeier’s appeal for EU members to accept proposals to share around 160,000 migrants fell on deaf ears among eastern nations.
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said he wanted a solution “that is not imposed” but “made jointly”. “Migrants don’t want to stay in Slovakia,” he added bluntly.
Denmark’s right-wing government also said it would not take part in the quota scheme.
With criticism growing of Hungary’s treatment of thousands of people passing through on their way to northern Europe, premier Viktor Orban said he wanted 3.0 billion euros ($3.4 billion) handed to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, the first ports of call for Syrians trying to escape conflict.
Saudi says it has received 2.5 <g data-gr-id="47">mn</g> Syrians
With the rising exodus of Syrians from their strife-torn nation, Saudi Arabia said it has received 2.5 million Syrians since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011.
Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported late Friday that the Syrians have not been treated as refugees but have been given the freedom to move across the country, a foreign ministry statement said.
The Syrians have been given residency permits, which give them the right to receive free medical care, to join the labour market and to attend schools and universities, Xinhua news agency reported.
And it was contained in a royal decree in 2012 that instructed public schools to accept Syrian students. According to government statistics, the public school system has accepted more than 100,000 Syrian students, the statement said.
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