Government: Border fence construction cannot be delayed

Budapest, June 18 (MTI) – The government is “not happy” about building a fence between Hungary and Serbia, but guaranteeing the country’s security means it must do so urgently, the government office chief told a regular press conference on Thursday.

It was not for “fun or amusement” that the government approved the decision to close off the border, Janos Lazar said, arguing that an “influx of 150,000 illegal migrants” posed a security risk for the country.

The Hungarian government is open to “constructive talks” with its Serbian counterpart at an upcoming joint cabinet session on July 1, he said.

Lazar also noted that crossing stations along the border would continue to offer legal entry.

Asked whether the government was considering a fence for any of its other borders, he said the government would not exclude any option until the European Commission comes up with a viable solution to the migration problem.