"Force won't be used against migrants - if they're peaceful"

"Force won't be used against migrants - if they're peaceful"

"As long as they are peaceful, we will not use force or disturb these people in any way - but they do have alternatives, they can be accommodated in the reception center. We are trying, and we are exhibiting great patience, like no other government in the world would - letting people gather in the inter-border zone," said Vulin.

He said that Serbia "cannot allow any disturbance of the public law and order" and that the state would act to protect everyone - "but cannot be responsible for the behavior of Hungary's authorities, or those of the EU, or any other state."

"We cannot be held hostage by any government, and by the same token, not by a lack of a common EU policy. We must protect our country, our territory, while these people have everything here necessary to stay for a period of time, until they apply for asylum," said Vulin.

As he explained, the state "cannot take on the responsibility and accept citizens of Pakistan and Afghanistan, because all EU doors are closed to them, they are considered to be economic migrants."

"It would be good if the EU were to send a clear signal as to who can, and who cannot enter, and stick to its decisions. It would be good if all EU member-states through which these people transit had a common policy, the rules which would apply along the whole migrant route," Vulin said on Monday.

He added that after the increased controls of illegal border crossings from Bulgaria and Macedonia, the number of those entering Serbia's territory had decreased - and with it, "many smuggling routes have been cut."

"Everyone who wants to enter Serbia legally has the right to seek entry, but has no illegal right. Information has appeared in the black market that smuggling prices for migrants had gone up considerably," Vulin said, according to Tanjug.

About 100 migrants embarked on a hunger strike on Sunday, some 400 meters from an improvised camp at Horgos - Serbia's northern border crossing with Hungary. They are sitting in the sun, taking only water, and demanding from Hungary's authorities to open the border and let them through on their way to another EU country.

Humanitarian organizations visited the migrants at the border on Monday, Tanjug said.