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Executive Chancellor Angela Merkel and Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a meeting in September
Photo: Omar Marques / Getty Images
The Executive Chancellor Angela Merkel has assured the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki that she will agree on the assessment of the refugee crisis on the border with Belarus.
After a joint conversation in Berlin, she emphasized on Thursday "that we have the same opinions on the nature of the crisis we are in and on how to solve it."
Merkel again defended her phone calls with the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
He is the contact person when it comes to questions such as the humanitarian care of the refugees or the access of the UN refugee commissioner.
"We have to be united among Europeans"
Merkel assured Poland of the "full solidarity" of Germany.
If there is no progress in the crisis, one should also think about further sanctions against Lukashenko.
"We must be united among us Europeans," said Merkel.
At the same time, however, the door to dialogue must always remain open.
Belarus lured migrants into the country with "a hybrid attack," said Merkel.
The Belarusian leadership wants to "destabilize the entire European Union".
Merkel also called for Russia, which has a special relationship with Belarus, to intervene.
Moscow had to make it clear that "people must not be abused for hybrid purposes," said the executive chancellor.
"Sanctions are one thing, but on the other hand you should always be open to dialogue in order to solve problems through discussions," said Merkel.
It was very important for her to hear the current view of the Polish government.
"Poland is under considerable daily pressure."
Poland sees itself as a defender of Germany
Morawiecki emphasized that his country on the border with Belarus protects the external border of the European Union. "In this context, we are also defending Germany from a large wave of refugees, because Lukashenko tried to test this border." Middle East made sure that the flights with people from this region to Belarus are stopped.
Thousands of refugees from the Middle East have been stuck on the EU's external border with Belarus, especially on the border with Poland, for weeks.
The EU accuses Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of deliberately smuggling people to the border in order to seek revenge for EU sanctions.
The Belarusian leadership rejects the allegations.
muk / dpa
