Macedonia Govt: Opposition 'Inciting Panic' About Migrants

Macedonia's Social Policy Ministry has denounced as lies claims by the opposition right-wing VMRO DPNNE party that the country is considering building permanent housing and issuing citizenship to migrants from the war-torn Middle-Eastern countries who are traversing its territory.

The VMRO DPMNE on Tuesday asked parliament to dismiss Social Policy Minister Mila Carovska, accusing her of planning to allow migrants to stay in the country permanently as part of the draft Strategy for Integration of Refugees and Foreign Citizens 2017-2027.

"Billions of euros will be spent in the next ten years on accommodation, the construction of buildings and settlements for migrants in several Macedonian municipalities," VMRO DPMNE MP Vlatko Gjorcev alleged on Tuesday.

The ministry however defied the VMRO DPMNE party, which was in power from 2006 until this May, to show evidence of its claims.

"The draft strategy is a continuation of the same strategy for the period 2009-2015, which was approved by the former VMRO DPMNE-led government. The document is non-obligatory and those who have signed this strategy in the past know this fact," the ministry said.

"We once again condemn the spreading of disinformation and the intentional spreading of fear and xenophobia among citizens," it added.

During the refugee crisis in 2015, about a million refugees crossed Macedonia and then Serbia on their way to EU countries.

Some 200 people however remain stranded in Macedonia, around 130 in the migrant camp in Gevgelija and 80 in Tabanovce, on the northern border with Serbia.

The new draft strategy is to provide guidelines for the authorities should a new wave of migrants head towards the country on their way to EU.

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