Hungarian President Katalin Novak (3rd R), Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (3rd L) and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis (2nd R) inspect the Hungarian border with Serbia in Tompa, Hungary, on Dec. 15, 2022. During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
BUDAPEST, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration.
"When we together protect the Hungary-Serbia border, we also protect Europe," Novak said at a joint press conference following the visit. The border, she said, was a "symbol of sovereignty" that "guarantees our safety."
Novak said Hungary took the most resolute actions against illegal migration. Migration pressure was increasing, and 261,000 people had tried to enter Hungary illegally this year, twice as many as last year, she said.
Novak said that the number of people smugglers was also increasing, and those who want to cross the border illegally were becoming more and more aggressive. "Attacks on border guards are a daily occurrence."
Vucic said that Serbia had also taken actions against armed human traffickers.
Babis pointed out that border protection was a matter of "European security," and underlined the importance of EU's cooperation with Türkiye. ■
Hungarian President Katalin Novak inspects the border with Serbia in Tompa, Hungary, on Dec. 15, 2022. During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (L) speaks during his visit to Hungary's southern border with Hungarian President Katalin Novak (C) and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Tompa, Hungary, on Dec. 15, 2022. During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Photo taken on Dec. 15, 2022 shows fences at Hungarian border with Serbia in Tompa, Hungary. During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Hungarian police officers patrol the border with Serbia in Tompa, Hungary, on Dec. 15, 2022. During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Hungarian President Katalin Novak (R) speaks during her visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (L) and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis (not seen in the picture) in Tompa, Hungary, on Dec. 15, 2022. During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Photo taken on Dec. 15, 2022 shows fences at Hungarian border with Serbia in Tompa, Hungary. During their visit to Hungary's southern border with Serbia on Thursday, presidents Katalin Novak of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, accompanied by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed on the need to tighten the protection of borders to prevent illegal migration. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)