Poland's border guards prevented migrants from attempting to break through the border.
Merkel will meet with the Polish head of government.
The news ticker.
Germans are divided in their opinion on the refugee crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border.
(Update from November 27, 10:45 a.m.)
Angela Merkel has received criticism for her phone calls with ruler Lukashenko at home and abroad.
(Update from November 27, 11 a.m.)
Lukashenko spreads the claim that Angela Merkel has agreed to accept 2,000 refugees.
(Update from November 27, 11 a.m.)
This news ticker is continuously updated.
Update from November 27th, 11.00 a.m.:
The Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has sharply criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for her phone calls with the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
He welcomes the fact that the EU is participating in a diplomatic solution to the refugee crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border.
However, with her telephone conversation with Lukashenko, Angel Merkel “contributed to the legitimation of his regime, while the struggle for a free Belarus has been going on for 15 months”.
This is what the politician belonging to the national-conservative PiS party said to the
German press agency
.
Belarus crisis: Polish Prime Minister criticizes Merkel and Lukashenko
Morawiecki also accused Lukashenko of having misused the phone calls for his own purposes.
He pretended that Merkel agreed to accept 2,000 migrants.
Lukashenko announced this explicitly on Friday (November 26th).
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert clearly denied this statement: "I would like to say very clearly on behalf of the Chancellor and the Federal Government that this statement is wrong".
Merkel had phoned Lukashenko twice in mid-November and was criticized for this both at home and abroad.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert justified the contact with the devastating humanitarian situation of the refugees.
Merkel's approach was also coordinated with the EU Commission.
Germans divided on the refugee crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border
Update from November 27, 10:45 a.m.:
According to a recent survey, Germans are divided in their opinion about the refugees stuck on the border between Belarus and Poland. 45 percent of the people surveyed by the polling institute YouGov spoke out against an entry permit for some of the migrants in order to then be able to check in this country whether they are entitled to protection. Only nine percent of the participants in the representative survey were in favor of allowing refugees in Germany to go through an asylum procedure - without attaching certain conditions to admission.
21 percent of the participants in the survey, which was commissioned by the
German Press Agency
, would then be in favor of an entry permit to Germany if other EU countries also accept asylum seekers from this group.
Another 18 percent only want to take in refugees who come from a war zone and seven percent of the participants did not have a clear opinion on the subject.
For weeks, thousands of refugees from Belarus have been trying to enter Poland or the Baltic states across the EU's external border.
Many of the people stuck on the Belarusian-Polish border come from Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan or Iran.
Belarus crisis: Baerbock demands toughness against Lukashenko and attacks Merkel over the phone
Update from November 26th, 12.15 p.m.:
The head of the Greens and designated Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pleads for hardship and at the same time for a dialogue in dealing with the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko. "We are experiencing a double blackmail by Lukashenko," Baerbock told the "Spiegel". On the one hand, refugees are being used to divide Europe. "On the other hand, the government wants to be recognized by the Europeans as a dialogue partner, even though it is suppressing the opposition," said Baerbock, adding: "You shouldn't allow yourself to be blackmailed by dictators."
It is therefore right to tighten the EU sanctions against Belarus and continue to put pressure on Lukashenko.
At the same time, diplomacy also means “always looking for dialogue,” said the Greens chairwoman.
"You cannot pursue foreign policy without dialogue."
However, Baerbock criticized the two phone calls between the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Lukashenko.
"It shouldn't have been the Chancellor who called Lukashenko," she said.
There is no "simple solution" to the crisis, but it is important that Poland and Germany act together.
From their point of view, the “top priority” is the “care of the refugees - also on Polish, i.e. EU, territory”.
Update from November 26th, 12 noon:
In the crisis of thousands of migrants stranded in Belarus, ruler Alexander Lukashenko once again asked to take in the people during a visit to the emergency shelter in Germany.
"2000 people - that's not a big problem for Germany," said Lukashenko on Friday in Brusgi on the border with Poland.
"Chancellor Merkel agrees," he asserted again.
Lukashenko had made a similar statement a few days ago after two phone calls with the executive head of government Angela Merkel (CDU) - afterwards there was a clear denial from Berlin.
The people in the emergency accommodation in a logistics hall wanted to go to Germany to see their families and loved ones.
“Please take these people in with you.
It's not a big burden, ”said Lukashenko.
Update from November 25th, 7:38 p.m.:
The Executive Chancellor Angela Merkel has assured the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj of her support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In a telephone conversation with Selenskyj, she emphasized, according to the federal government, that "undermining them would not remain without consequences". Both had agreed to move forward with the implementation of the Minsk agreements on conflict resolution in the Normandy format with France and Russia.
In Normandy format, Germany and France mediate between Ukraine and Russia in the conflict in the industrial region of Donbass that has been going on since 2014. However, the peace plan they agreed upon in 2015 is on hold. Moscow accuses Kiev of sabotaging its implementation. Most recently, a Normandy summit took place in Paris in December 2019. A summit planned for 2020 in Berlin never took place. UN estimates suggest that more than 13,000 people were killed in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in Donbass.
In addition, Merkel and Selenskyj exchanged views on the situation on the borders between Belarus and the EU and Ukraine.
Merkel had previously assured the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Germany's “full solidarity” in the conflict with Belarus over migrants at the Belarusian borders.
If there was no progress in the crisis, one would have to think about further sanctions, but remain open to dialogue.
Dramatic scene at the Belarus border: migrants break through the fence - Poland takes action
Update from November 25, 10:45 a.m.:
On Thursday, Poland's border guards registered at least 375 attempts by migrants to overcome the border barriers from Belarus and enter the EU illegally.
A group of 232 people damaged the border fence near the town of Czeremsza and advanced a few meters into Polish territory, said a spokeswoman for the authority on Thursday.
The security forces brought the group back.
Five migrants were hospitalized because of exhaustion.
+
The handout made available by the Belarusian state agency BelTA via AP shows a migrant holding his child in front of a logistics center at the “Kuznica” checkpoint near the Belarusian-Polish border when it is snowing.
© Leonid Shcheglov / dpa
According to the police, three suspected smugglers were arrested, including two Ukrainians and a Swede of Syrian origin.
They were traveling with a total of 14 migrants.
Since Poland does not allow journalists into the area, the information cannot be independently verified.
From the Belarusian side it was said that around 2,000 people are still staying near the border in an emergency shelter and are hoping to continue their journey to Germany.
Many people now need medical help, for example because of colds, reported the state news agency Belta.
Belarus conflict: Macron demands press access to the border - Tichanovskaya demands "more decisive action"
Update from November 24th, 3:20 p.m.:
In view of the crisis surrounding migrants at the EU's external border, French President Emmanuel Macron has demanded free access for journalists on the Polish side of the border.
The Elysée Palace announced on Wednesday after Macron's meeting with Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Poland does not currently allow journalists to enter the border area.
Macron also reiterated solidarity with Poland in the face of the destabilization of the border.
France is ready to make a contribution to general security and supports a humanitarian operation on the ground, said the Elysée Palace.
In addition, the question of the rule of law was a topic of conversation.
Macron had expressed concern and urged Poland to comply with EU law.
Morawiecki said he had spoken to Macron about the fears associated with several actions taking place at the same time, the PAP news agency reported. “On the one hand, of course, this is the situation on our eastern border, which is at the same time the eastern border of NATO (...) and the EU. By defending it, we are defending the EU. ”The other is the concentration of Russian army units on the border with Ukraine and blackmailing over the price of gas. "All of these actions should lead to an answer - and this answer is the solidarity of the EU."
Update from November 24th, 3:15 p.m.:
The Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya has called on the EU to take more decisive action against the ruler Alexander Lukashenko. "We need a more active European approach when it comes to autocracy," said Tichanovskaya on Wednesday in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. At the same time, she welcomed the sanctions imposed by the EU on those around Lukashenko.
"Let me assure you: sanctions work. Stick to a consistent sanctions policy," said the exiled opposition leader. "Sanctions divide the elites, destroy corruption plans and divide the people around Lukashenko." She called for more support for the opposition in Belarus, including the media and human rights activists. "People must feel that they are not being left in the lurch," said Tichanovskaya. According to her, statements in which the European Union expresses its "deep concern" are not sufficient.
At the beginning of the week, Tichanovskaya called on the EU governments to refrain from "any contact" with Lukashenko.
The Belarusian leadership must first meet important demands of the opposition before a "real dialogue" can take place, she said on Monday.
She also criticized the phone calls that Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) made with Lukashenko last week about the refugee crisis.
+
The Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tichanovskaya has called for the EU to take more active action against autocracy.
© Julien Warnand / EPA / POOL / AP / dpa
Belarus crisis: Chancellor Merkel will meet with the Polish head of government - "Germany's full solidarity"
Update from November 24th, 2:20 p.m.:
The Executive Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) wants to discuss the situation of migrants on the Belarusian-Polish border at a meeting in Berlin with Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki this Thursday. The government spokesman Steffen Seibert announced on Wednesday in Berlin. The Federal Government is aware that Poland is "extremely challenged" by the situation on the border - as are other countries with a border with Belarus. “But Poland is hit particularly hard.” Merkel phoned Morawiecki last week to promise him “Germany's full solidarity”. This will also be the focus of the conversation on Thursday.
The federal government and the other EU member states wanted good humanitarian conditions to be created for the people along the Polish-Belarusian border, said Seibert.
In addition, there must be access for the UN refugee agency UNHCR and for the International Organization for Migration.
These should not only be able to provide acute help locally, but also help to bring people back to their home countries “in a safer way”.
Everything that happens along the border has to be in accordance with the applicable law, emphasized Seibert.
Belarus conflict: Polish border guards foiled border breakthrough - “aggressive migrants” throw stones at Polish officials
First report from November 24th, 2 p.m .:
Thousands of migrants are still at the eastern EU * external border between Poland and Belarus *. The refugees hope to be accepted into the European Union. There are also repeated attempts to breach the border, which the Polish border guards have so far been able to stop. On Tuesday evening
(November 23),
according to the Polish border guards, three large groups of migrants tried in vain to break through the border barriers from Belarus and enter the EU illegally. A soldier was injured in the head and had to be treated, a spokeswoman for the authority said on Wednesday.
In the vicinity of Dubicze Cerkiewne, a group of more than 100 people tried to penetrate into Polish territory. "These people were very aggressive, they threw stones at Polish officials, threw a boardwalk on the barbed wire barricade, migrants cut through parts of the barrier," said the spokeswoman. The group managed to get to the Polish side in the short term. But they were arrested and taken back to the border.
Two more attempted border breaches occurred near the town of Mielnik, where groups of around 30 migrants tried to cross the border in the evening and shortly before midnight.
The border guards registered a total of 267 attempts to illegally cross the border.
Since Poland does not allow journalists into the area, the information cannot be verified.
+
Thousands of migrants are currently in refugee shelters near the Polish border.
© Andrey Pokumeiko / BelTA / AP / dpa
Lukashenko: ruler says war with Poland would be a catastrophe and relies on Europe giving in - "we are not barbarians"
Meanwhile, the authoritarian Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko * warned of war with Poland. This would be a “catastrophe”, said Lukashenko: “We have to convey to the Poles, every Pole, that we are not barbarians. We don't want a confrontation, we can't need it. Because we know that if we overdo it, a war is inevitable and that would be a catastrophe. "
At the same time, Belarusian President Lukashenko is counting on Europe to give in.
He criticizes the European Union for not wanting to take in the refugees at the border.
Previously, he claimed several times that the Executive Chancellor Angela Merkel had promised him that she would examine the situation at EU level.
In addition, the Belarusian leadership referred to Merkel as a “humanitarian corridor to Germany”.
This claim has been denied by the federal government.
(bb with material from dpa) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
List of rubric lists: © Maxim Guchek / BelTA / AP / dpa
