(source: Sme)
“Originally, there should have been more of us, but quite a few people changed their minds at the last minute and refused to come to Slovakia,” one asylum seeker told TASR. “I hope that we won’t stay here for long, either, we want to get back to Austria.”
Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and his Austrian counterpart Federal Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner signed a memorandum on July 21, under the terms of which Slovakia agreed to admit 500 asylum seekers from a refugee camp in Traiskirchen, near Vienna in Lower Austria, on a temporary basis, providing shelter to them at the facility in Gabčíkovo.
“We must emphasise that they’re seeking asylum in Austria and will only be accommodated in Slovakia temporarily ,” Netík said, as quoted by TASR. “They’ll be returned to Austria when they’re granted asylum. We don’t expect them to commit any crimes or cause disturbances here because it could mar their chances of obtaining asylum.”
In order to prepare for the arrival of the asylum seekers the number of police officers in the village increased and the surveillance system in the village will be reinforced.
“We’re providing everything, the accommodation is ready,” Netík said, as quoted by TASR. “Food is being prepared at the moment. Security measures are being applied.”
The allocation of applicants will be carried out gradually, according to an agreement between the two sides. The total number of applicants housed in the accommodation facility may increase after the departure of accepted applicants, but their number should not exceed 500 at any one time, according to the memorandum.
Slovakia will provide the applicants with accommodation and food. On the other hand, Austria will pay the asylum seeker’s transport costs and give them some pocket money. If the applicants cause any damage to property at the accommodation facility, the memorandum states that the Austrian side will pay for this as well.
