Croatia Mulls Options if Hungary Closes Border

Croatia is mulling its options on refugees after Hungary again announced that it may  completely close the border with Croatia.

After Hungary closed the border with Serbia on September 15, the refugee wave promptly diverted to Croatia the next day, with buses of refugees coming from the town of Presevo in the south of Serbia to the border.

For a few days, until Croatia temporarily closed the border with Serbia, Croatia received the incomers in refugee centres around the country, where they were registered and allowed to continue their trek toward Germany and northern Europe.

Some refugees were transported to Croatia's border with Slovenia, but the majority of the 85,000 were transported to the nearest border crossings with Hungary.

Now, claiming it is overwhelmed by an influx of refugees from Croatia, Hungary has again said it may close the border with Croatia.

Hungarian police claim 23,591 refugees illegally entered Hungary from Croatia during the weekend, while another 636 illegally entered Hungary from Serbia.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter on Monday said the date for closing the border with Croatia was not set, as it depends on the continued flow of refugees from Croatia.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban last Friday said he would ask the other member states of the Visegrad Group - Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland - for their opinion on closing the border with Croatia.

All Visegrad Group countries strongly the oppose immigration of refugees, while Slovakia has said it will only take in Christians.

If Hungary does close the border, the Croatian authorities may have to transport all the refugees all the way to the border with Slovenia, which would take more time and stretch...