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German Leaders Seek to Ease Tensions Over Migrant Crisis German Leaders Seek to Ease Tensions Over Migrant Crisis
(35 minutes later)
BERLIN — German leaders responded on Wednesday to persistent violence led by far-right extremists against the increasing number of foreigners seeking asylum, with the chancellor and the president making visits to refugee reception centers to send a message of acceptance.BERLIN — German leaders responded on Wednesday to persistent violence led by far-right extremists against the increasing number of foreigners seeking asylum, with the chancellor and the president making visits to refugee reception centers to send a message of acceptance.
“There is no tolerance for those people who question the dignity of others, there is no tolerance for those who are not willing to help where legal and human help is required,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Heidenau, a town in eastern Germany, where she was jeered by a group of about 50 people when she arrived.“There is no tolerance for those people who question the dignity of others, there is no tolerance for those who are not willing to help where legal and human help is required,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Heidenau, a town in eastern Germany, where she was jeered by a group of about 50 people when she arrived.
Germany, along with Austria, France and Sweden, has taken in the bulk of the hundreds of thousands flocking to Europe, but countries across the continent are struggling to cope with the influx. Germany, along with Austria, France and Sweden, has taken in the bulk of the hundreds of thousands flocking to Europe, but countries across the Continent are struggling to cope with the influx.
In Hungary, a day after the police said that 2,533 immigrants had entered the country from neighboring Serbia on Tuesday, the highest one-day figure this year, officials planned on Wednesday to send the army, mounted police and dogs to its southern border to confront the migrants, Reuters reported.In Hungary, a day after the police said that 2,533 immigrants had entered the country from neighboring Serbia on Tuesday, the highest one-day figure this year, officials planned on Wednesday to send the army, mounted police and dogs to its southern border to confront the migrants, Reuters reported.
The Hungarian police sought to quell unrest at a reception center in the border region of Roszke, German news media reported, with the broadcaster ARD showing images of what appeared to be clouds of tear gas in an area crowded with migrants.The Hungarian police sought to quell unrest at a reception center in the border region of Roszke, German news media reported, with the broadcaster ARD showing images of what appeared to be clouds of tear gas in an area crowded with migrants.
Most of the migrants entering Hungary have no plans to stay there, and are instead passing through on their way to Germany or to other countries in the European Union that are seen as more desirable. Most of the migrants entering Hungary have no plans to stay there, and they are instead passing through on their way to Germany or to other countries in the European Union that are seen as more desirable.
Yet many countries, including Germany, are struggling to process the number of asylum seekers, leading to unrest and difficult conditions at overcrowded reception centers.Yet many countries, including Germany, are struggling to process the number of asylum seekers, leading to unrest and difficult conditions at overcrowded reception centers.
“Given what we have all been forced to see here, I would like to recall that the humane and dignified treatment of every individual who comes to us is part of Germany’s national identity,” Ms. Merkel said after visiting the center in Heidenau, near Dresden, that was the site of violent protests over the weekend.“Given what we have all been forced to see here, I would like to recall that the humane and dignified treatment of every individual who comes to us is part of Germany’s national identity,” Ms. Merkel said after visiting the center in Heidenau, near Dresden, that was the site of violent protests over the weekend.
Several hundred neo-Nazis and members of the far-right National Democratic Party threw stones and bottles at the police and shouted “Heil Hitler” during the protests in Heidenau. Ms. Merkel called the clashes and anti-immigrant protests “shameful and offensive.”Several hundred neo-Nazis and members of the far-right National Democratic Party threw stones and bottles at the police and shouted “Heil Hitler” during the protests in Heidenau. Ms. Merkel called the clashes and anti-immigrant protests “shameful and offensive.”
Pledging to “do everything possible to make clear that Germany helps where help is needed,” she said that when Parliament reconvenes in September, legal changes would be made to help cope with the influx of asylum seekers.Pledging to “do everything possible to make clear that Germany helps where help is needed,” she said that when Parliament reconvenes in September, legal changes would be made to help cope with the influx of asylum seekers.
Germany’s ministry for migrants and refugees has already decided to allow any Syrians reaching the country to apply for asylum, even if they have already been registered in another European Union member country (Asylum seekers must normally apply for recognition as a refugee in the country where they entered the bloc, according to European Union law). Germany’s ministry for migrants and refugees has already decided to allow any Syrians reaching the country to apply for asylum, even if they have already been registered in another European Union member country. (Asylum seekers must normally apply for recognition as a refugee in the country where they entered the bloc, according to European Union law.)
Ms. Merkel has been the target of criticism from opposition politicians and from the general public over her handling of the migrant crisis. A campaign on social media under the hashtag #Merkelschweigt, which translates to Merkel stay silent, decried what many see as her lack of a clear stance against the attacks. Ms. Merkel has been the target of criticism from opposition politicians and from the general public over her handling of the migrant crisis. A campaign on social media under the hashtag #Merkelschweigt, which translates to Merkel stay silent, denounced what many see as her lack of a clear stance against the attacks.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Joachim Gauck visited a refugee reception center in a western Berlin neighborhood, where he praised the engagement of Germans who have donated their time and energy to welcoming the refugees and helping them adapt. Earlier on Wednesday, President Joachim Gauck visited a refugee reception center in a western Berlin neighborhood, where he praised the engagement of Germans who have donated their time and energy to welcoming the arrivals and helping them adapt.
“It is important to me that Germany recognizes the helpful efforts of these hundreds of thousands of people,” Mr. Gauck said. “This is the clear answer to the agitators and arsonists. We will tell them: ‘You do not represent us.’ We will not tolerate this.” “It is important to me that Germany recognizes the helpful efforts of these hundreds of thousands of people,” Mr. Gauck said. “This is the clear answer to the agitators and arsonists. We will tell them, ‘You do not represent us.’ We will not tolerate this.”
The violence has continued, however, with the police in the northeastern German city of Parchim reporting that two people with knives were arrested after entering a refugee home in the city late Tuesday. The same night, a man threw a burning object at a planned home for 56 refugees in the eastern city of Leipzig, causing a mattress to catch fire, the police reported. The violence has continued, however, with the police in the northeastern German city of Parchim reporting that two people with knives were arrested after entering a refugee home in the city late on Tuesday. The same night, a man threw a burning object at a planned home for 56 refugees in the eastern city of Leipzig, causing a mattress to catch fire, the police reported.
Ms. Merkel’s cabinet on Wednesday approved a measure to double the amount of funding to provide for the care and processing of asylum seekers to 1 billion euros, or about $1.15 billion. Responsibility for processing refugee applications falls to the country’s 16 states and their various municipalities, but with 800,000 people expected to apply for refugee status in Germany this year, local governments are straining to accommodate the influx.Ms. Merkel’s cabinet on Wednesday approved a measure to double the amount of funding to provide for the care and processing of asylum seekers to 1 billion euros, or about $1.15 billion. Responsibility for processing refugee applications falls to the country’s 16 states and their various municipalities, but with 800,000 people expected to apply for refugee status in Germany this year, local governments are straining to accommodate the influx.