Anundsen border fence will soon be in place

Justice Minister Anders AnundsenJustice Minister Anders Anundsen.Photo: regjeringen.no.

Justice Minister Anders Anundsen decision to build a border fence against Russia received rough treatment.

Now the first shovel taken.

Liberal leader Trine Skei Grande called it a waste of money, while mayor Rune Rafaelsen (Ap) in Sør-Varanger not see the need for a fence.

But the government believes it is essential to strengthen control after 5,500 asylum seekers came across the Norwegian-Russian border at Storskog within a few weeks last fall.

– Today’s massage is to have border protection. We want to secure the border area better, as part of the border station at Storskog becoming modernized, says Justice and Emergency Minister Anders Anundsen (Frp) to news agency NTB.

He said that Norway’s will maintain the role as guardian of the Schengen external borders pledge, saying the fence erected in full understanding with the Russian authorities.

The new fence will be a total of 200 meters long and 3.5 meters high and extends 100 meters into the ground on either side of the new port at the border station at Storskog. Ministry of Justice expects that construction is complete and that the fence and gate will be in place by mid-October.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today