SKOPJE, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian Minister of Defense Radmila Sheqerinska said Sunday that his country would increase security measures in borders after the United States-led joint forces launched airstrikes on military targets in Syria on Saturday for its alleged use of chemical weapons early this month.
The minister said Macedonia should become part of the collective security system taking into consideration the impact that the region will have in case of the new attacks on Syria.
"In the coming days we will have talks with the Macedonian Ministry of Interior, as well as with other institutions in order to increase the pressure on the borders," said Sheqerinska, adding about 100 immigrants were caught while attempting to cross the border illegally. This showed that Macedonia and the region should practically consider that this situation will last long.
On Saturday, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov in regard to the attacks in Syria emphasized that Syria's latest developments pointed out that conflicts and wars are a state of normalcy and peace seems an exception.
At the end of June 2017, Macedonian Parliament unanimously decided to extend the state of crisis to Dec. 31, 2017, due to the arrival of numerous migrants at Macedonia's southern and northern borders.
The United States, along with Britain and France, launched joint airstrikes on military targets in Syria on Saturday for its alleged use of chemical weapons early this month.
The allegations, strongly denied by Syria and Russia, have not been independently investigated and verified.
