LAST UPDATE: 15.10
Polish Prime Minister Matthew Morawiecki today called the migration crisis on the border between Poland and Belarus, the EU’s eastern border, “the biggest attempt to destabilize Europe” since the Cold War.
“Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has launched a hybrid war against the EU. It is the biggest attempt to destabilize Europe in 30 years. Morawiecki noted in a Twitter message.
“Today, the target is Poland, but tomorrow it will be Germany, Belgium, France or Spain,” the Polish prime minister said in a videotaped message, also denouncing “support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.” , to Lukashenko.
Morawiecki posted the video shortly before leaving for a tour of the Baltic states, which also border Belarus, and will visit other European capitals later in the week.
Political analysts, however, say Warsaw’s rhetoric is aimed at diverting attention from its reforms, which the EU accuses of undermining the independence of the judiciary. “It is true that the border problem is serious and requires the solidarity of Western Europe, but in terms of the importance of the crisis, it is far from a war in Ukraine,” said Marcin Zaborowski, a political analyst at the Globsec think tank.
The West accuses Belarus of provoking an artificial crisis by smuggling migrants from the Middle East and forwarding them to its borders with Europe in retaliation for EU sanctions. Belarus denies the allegations and denounces them. the EU that it does not accept immigrants.
Mr Lukashenko told the BBC on Friday that it was “absolutely possible” that Belarussian troops had helped some to cross into EU territory but denied that his regime had orchestrated the operation. “We are Slavs. We have a heart. Our soldiers know that immigrants are going to Germany. Maybe someone helped them. But I did not invite them here,” he said.
According to Polish media, at least 11 migrants have lost their lives trying to cross the border. Earlier today in Bahoniki, a border village, a Yemeni man who died of a cold in the dead zone between the two countries was buried in the presence of his brother.
Polish Prime Minister Matthew Morawiecki today called the migration crisis on the border between Poland and Belarus, the EU’s eastern border, “the biggest attempt to destabilize Europe” since the Cold War.
“Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has launched a hybrid war against the EU. It is the biggest attempt to destabilize Europe in 30 years. Morawiecki noted in a Twitter message.
Poland today accused Belarus of continuing to smuggle migrants to its borders, although it cleared settlements near the border earlier this week.
Europe claims that Belarus is transporting thousands of people by air from the Middle East and then pushing them to cross into the European Union. Minsk denies inciting the crisis.
“On Saturday (…) a group of about 100, very aggressive, foreigners, were transported to the border by Belarusian soldiers and tried to enter Poland by force. The (Polish) services prevented it,” the border guard said today on Twitter.
On Saturday, 208 attempts were made by migrants to enter Poland from Belarus, slightly more than those made on Friday but far fewer than the 501 recorded on Wednesday. Neighboring Lithuania said 44 migrants had tried unsuccessfully to enter its territory on Saturday.
About a dozen Iraqi migrants who spoke to the Lithuanian news portal DELFI said they were forcibly transported to the border in military trucks by Belarusian soldiers, who ignored their desire to return home.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited Estonia earlier today to discuss the crisis with his counterpart Kaya Kalas. Later he will go to Lithuania and Latvia.
“Today, on the eastern border of Poland, we are facing a new kind of war, a war in which immigrants are weapons, misinformation is a weapon, a hybrid war,” Morawiecki said, warning that further economic sanctions on Belarus were under discussion.
A poll by the SW Research Institute published today in the Rzeczpospolita newspaper shows that 55.1% of Poles are worried that the border crisis could escalate into an armed conflict.
On Saturday, however, hundreds of people took part in demonstrations in Warsaw and near the border, calling for help for migrants.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
.
Source From: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
