The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is to send back hundreds of refugees who entered the country illegally from Greece, although Skopje has not made an official request yet.
According to FYROM police the 700-800 refugees and migrants who crossed the border on Monday will be sent back to Greece, claiming Athens is obligated to take them back based on international treaties on illegal border crossing. Along with the migrants, FYROM authorities arrested 28 photojournalists who were later released.
The spokesperson for the coordinating committee for refugees Giorgos Kyritsis said on SKAI television that there has been no official request by Skopjie for readmission of the refugees to Greece. Kyritsis said that the Greek government will evaluate the official request upon its arrival.
“These are issues pertaining to the foreign ministry. There is no agreement the Greek government (and FYROM) has made on border control. If there is a readmission application, we will look into it,” Kyritsis said.
Kyritsis also denied that the Greek government has anything to do with a flyer in Arabic that appeared at the Idomeni refugee camp saying that those who cross to FYROM will not be sent back to Greece and they can travel to Europe from there.
After the first wave of refugees who crossed its borders, FYROM took measures and sent army and police forces to the border points that were not guarded.
A group of 300-400 people remain at the spot where their fellows crossed the border, despite the fact that it is heavily guarded. However, the migrants are refusing to leave the point and return to Idomeni in the hope that they will make it past the fence like their fellows.
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