Minister: Hungary to build fence on Serbia border to stop illegal migrants as fast as possible

CORRECTS TO WEDNESDAY - In this June 23, 2015 picture illegal migrants, were captured in the holm of the Tisza river, near Szeged, 170 kms southeast of Budapest, Hungary. Hungary’s foreign minister says Wednesday June 24, 2015 the government has decided to build a temporary fence on the border with Serbia as fast as possible to stop the flow of illegal migrants. (Zoltan Gergely Kelemen/MTI via AP) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, speaks during a press conference in the Parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Hungary’s foreign minister says the government has decided to build a temporary fence on the border with Serbia as fast as possible to stop the flow of illegal migrants. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP) (The Associated Press)

CORRECTS TO WEDNESDAY - In this June 23, 2015 picture illegal migrants, who were captured in the holm of the Tisza river, are seen near Szeged, 170 kms southeast of Budapest, Hungary. Hungary’s foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said Wednesday June 24, 2015 the government has decided to build a temporary fence on the border with Serbia as fast as possible to stop the flow of illegal migrants. (Zoltan Gergely Kelemen/MTI via AP) (The Associated Press)

Hungary's foreign minister says the government has decided to build a temporary fence on the border with Serbia as fast as possible to stop the flow of illegal migrants.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Wednesday that several laws needed to be amended before construction could begin but he did not say when the work on the border could start.

Szijjarto said the fence, which is opposed by Serbia, "is not a bilateral issue. Relations with Serbia have never been as good as now."

He said 61,000 illegal immigrants had entered Hungary this year, nearly all by crossing Hungary's southern border with Serbia. Most of those who request refugee status in Hungary quickly leave for other destinations in western Europe, like Austria, Germany and Sweden.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/minister-hungary-to-build-fence-on-serbia-border-to-stop-illegal-migrants-as-fast-as-possible