This is a problem for all of Lithuania

 "There is growing dissatisfaction among the Lithuanian population about the increasing number of migrants coming from Asia and Africa to the EU country. But the government appeals for the help of the citizens. 

The migration crisis on the EU's eastern border is becoming more and more of a burden for the Lithuanian government. On Wednesday, the border guards reported that 171 more migrants had reached Lithuania via Belarus and the green border - a new daily record. This means that around 3,000 illegal cross-border commuters have come to the EU country in just a few weeks. Their accommodation is causing increasing difficulties. For the first time there was also a scuffle between security forces and demonstrators who protested against the setting up of a new tent camp for migrants; there were injuries. According to the Ministry of Defense, the army will also be involved in securing the accommodation in the future. 

President Gitanas Nauseda visited the border village of Dieveniškes unannounced on Thursday. Here, as in a dozen or so other places, more migrants are to be accommodated, which would almost double the population of the village (around 600 people). “It's not a problem just for the government, a few municipalities, or local communities. This is a problem for the whole of Lithuania that we can only solve together, ”said the president, who appeared as commander in chief in army uniform. 

 Dieveniškes is enclosed on three sides by Belarusian territory. The county council decided unanimously to speak out against the housing plans and to ask the government to change their plans. Demonstrators from the village even protested in the capital Vilnius and spoke of a possible “danger” for women and children in the village. Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite spoke of the villagers being "incited" to take action against the state. Therefore, one will not talk in detail about accommodation plans in the future, "because there are interested people who organize chaos and riots". 

The main task remains to "send the migrants back to their homeland as quickly as possible". To this end, an acceleration of the asylum procedure was adopted two weeks ago. In the best case, a decision on an asylum application can be made within ten days. 

 On Thursday, Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte chaired a “round table” on the subject for the first time, at which representatives of all parties sat. "During the meeting, I often heard the words 'agreed' and 'unanimously'," said Nauseda afterwards. “That gives rise to hope, because it means: the problem can be solved.” At best, there were “tactical differences” as to how migration should be dealt with on the diplomatic floor. 

According to Nauseda, the problem of border security that has not been resolved for years must now be resolved. "Citizens' initiative" is also in demand here. "In the case of unconventional problems, unconventional means are needed, and that has to be done quickly and efficiently." 

They also talked about imposing a state of emergency. There was a great deal of openness among parties alone, but legal problems first had to be examined. After the meeting, Šimonyte said that the EU was very much looking forward to talks with Iraq and Turkey. Around half of the migrants are Iraqis, the other half so far come from 39 Asian and African countries and mostly fly via Istanbul to Minsk in order to reach the EU's external border. In a letter published on Thursday by EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson to the responsible ministers of the EU member states, it was said that Brussels had contacted the Iraqi government so that they could “better control flights to Belarus and allow Iraqi nationals who want to return voluntarily to re-enter Iraq"."