Police Test Mobile Barrier in Exercise to Prevent Illegal Migration

Bratislava, February 24 (TASR) – Near the Bratislava borough of Rusovce on Wednesday, police and fire brigade held a training exercise involving a mobile barrier to be used in response to large numbers of people having to be barred from entering the country and to direct their flow.

The exercise, entitled ‘Bariera’, was attended by Prime Minister Robert Fico and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak.

As well as the usage of the barrier there was also an entry procedure component wherein border and aliens police officers were trained in carrying out procedures.

According to the Interior Ministry, there are sufficient means to erect such a barrier over a length of several kilometres. However, the exact number wasn’t specified. The border with Austria is referred to as one area where the barrier may be consigned.

“It’s an exercise of construction of an artificial barrier that we are able to set up at a country border and in any location. Its priority purpose is to direct and eventually bar a large number of migrants from coming to tour the country, in this case we are talking about illegal migrants,” said exercise commander Ladislav Scemi.

According to Kalinak, apart from the barrier, police have other means to protect Slovakia’s borders. “There will also be patrols deployed in means of transport, as richer migrants use trains and buses to travel,” said Kalinak.

Fico said that it’s obvious that the European Union is failing to protect Schengen area borders, as the number of migrants that enter Europe through Greece from Turkey is still on the rise and it will continue to rise with the better weather.

Fico also mentioned the decision of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban planning to hold a referendum on mandatory quotas on refugee relocation. Fico reiterated Slovakia’s official stance on the issue: “We will not respect mandatory quotas, because they are nonsensical,” said Fico.

Both Slovakia and Hungary are taking the European Commission to the court in Luxembourg on the quotas.