Greece Extends Border Wall
The Guardian reports Greece Extends Border Wall to Deter Afghans Trying to Reach Europe
Greece said it has completed a 25-mile (40km) wall on its border with Turkey and installed a surveillance system to prevent possible asylum seekers from trying to reach Europe after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s sweeping advance last week has sparked fears that Europe could face a migration crisis similar to that in 2015, with people fleeing persecution or further conflict.
Greece’s citizens’ protections minister, Michalis Chrisochoidis, said the country had taken action to stop a repeat of scenes six years ago. A fence of almost eight miles had already been in place. “We cannot wait, passively, for the possible impact,” Chrisochoidis said. “Our borders will remain safe and inviolable.”
The Greek government said last week it would not allow refugees to cross into Europe and would turn people back. “Our country will not be a gateway to Europe for illegal Afghan migrants,” the migration minister, Notis Mitarachi, said in a statement.
Lithuania to Build Wall Along Belarus Border
DW reports Lithuania to Build Wall Along Belarus Border.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Shimonyte on Wednesday announced that her government would build “an additional physical barrier that separates Lithuania and Belarus,” and deploy soldiers to control the flow of people entering the country from neighboring Belarus.
The prime minister had previously called the idea “a waste of time.” The two ex-Soviet countries share a 678-kilometer (421-mile) border, and a fence would cost an estimated €15 million ($17.7 million).
The prime minister had previously called the idea “a waste of time.” The two ex-Soviet countries share a 678-kilometer (421-mile) border, and a fence would cost an estimated €15 million ($17.7 million).
The apparent change of heart came as the number of migrants crossing the border — an external EU border — has skyrocketed in recent weeks. EU officials believe Minsk seeking revenge for Western sanctions over a number of issues including election rigging and human rights abuses.
Hungary Has a Wall
Please note that Hungary Has Wall.
In 2015, Hungary built a border barrier on its border with Serbia and Croatia. The fence was constructed during the European migrant crisis, with the aim to ensure border security by preventing illegal immigrants from entering, and enabling the option to enter through official checkpoints and claim asylum in Hungary in accordance with international and European law. The number of illegal entries to Hungary declined greatly after the barrier was finished as it effectively abolished the entry to Hungary.
Damn, Hungary’s wall worked.
What About Slovenia?
Thanks. I’m glad you asked. I might have missed it.
Romania Too? Mercy!
The above images courtesy of USA Today.
Poland Builds Wars to Keep Out Boars
The Independent reports Poland Wants Border Wall to Keep Out Foreign Boar.
Poland plans to build a fence along 770 miles of border to stop beasts from the east, wild boar, which have brought African swine fever into the country.
The two-metre high steel barrier will take two years to erect along the border with Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian province of Kaliningrad.
Who’s Paying For These Walls?
Excellent questions keep pouring in.
I got on the phone today with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“We will not pay for European walls or North American walls,” said Obrador.
Authorities in Lithuania, Belarus, Croatia, Romania did not respond to my questions.
Confidential sources inform me the Taliban want a wall to stop people from leaving Afghanistan.
“It’s a dual purpose wall,” said one Taliban official who wishes to remain anonymous. “They don’t want us and we don’t want our people to leave. We are happy to have others build a wall as long as they pay for it,” said the official.
Victor Orban in Hungary did respond to my question. “The wall pays for itself,” said Orban.
Polish officials are also willing to comment on the record. “The boar pay for the wall,” said an official government spokesperson.
What About Beauty?
The race to build fences and walls is on.
The US is lagging.
But what about beauty? Is that barbed wire fence beautiful?
Trump promised a beautiful wall!
Perhaps beauty is best defined by the answer to this question: Does it work?
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