Afghanistan Times
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KABUL: Visiting Norwegian officials on Sunday said their government’s new policy on immigration had minimised the chance for illegal migrants to be accepted there and possibly 90 percent applications might be rejected.
Speaking to reporters here, Tore Hattrem, state secretary at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and Yoran Kalmar, justice secretary of state, said they were concerned about the flow of illegal migrants, including Afghans, to Norway.
“We are more worried about migrants who have children with them and enter Norway through a dangerous border from the Russian side which has been closed for immigrants’ entry,” the officials said.
Hattrem said migrants who did not meet the required criteria for acceptance would be provided with two to three fold bigger amount they had paid to agents for coming to Norway to return them back home, otherwise they would be forcibly deported.
He lamented that the immigrants were faced with possible sexual attacks or the danger of slavery on their way to European countries. He said Norway welcomed the Afghan Presidential Palace move welcoming deported Afghan migrants.
The visiting officials said they had conveyed their concerns about Afghan refugees during meetings with President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and other officials concerned.
The justice secretary said: “I want to inform those who want to enter Norway from Russian side that the border has been closed and no one would be accepted into Norway because Russia is a peaceful country and it is not logical to accept migrants from there.” Without giving more details, Yoran Kalmar said upto 90 percent applications of refugees might be rejected.
They said individuals who wanted to seek asylum in Norway due to security reasons would be rejected, but those having no place for living in Afghanistan due to religious violence, discrimination and other issues would be accepted.
Norway is situated in northern Europe and one of the biggest donors to Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban regime.
The Afghan government does not follow a clear cut policy on the future of Afghan migrants in foreign countries.
The Presidential Palace has welcomed their return, while the Ministry of Refugees said the country was unable to afford the migrants back in the current circumstances. (PAN)
