Bosnian Security Minister Sadik Ahmetovic and the Belgian Immigration Service's director-general Freddy Roosemont met in Sarajevo on Wednesday to discuss the matter. Roosemont said after the talks that all Bosnian citizens who had applied for asylum in Belgium and had been refused would be sent back to Bosnia.
Ahmetovic was quoted in a statement issued by the security ministry as saying that the Bosnian authorities have stepped up control at the border crossings and have taken the necessary steps so that the non-visa regime which Bosnia was granted by European Union member-states would not be challenged.
The minister called on Bosnians not to seek asylum in EU member-states as their country is regarded as a safe one, which is why their asylum requests are doomed to failure.
Roosemont expressed satisfaction with Bosnia's quick response to what he said was an alarmingly increasing number od asylum seekers.
Several thousand Bosnians, mostly from the northern towns of Modrica, Gradacac and Odzak, recently left for Belgium after they were given false promises that thy could obtain asylum and a job in that country.