Germany to speed up expulsions of rejected asylum seekersFebruary 22, 2017 - 17:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Germany will speed up expulsions of rejected asylum seekers under measures agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet Wednesday, February 22, as controversy raged over sending people back to strife-torn Afghanistan, AFP reports. Under the new measures, immigration agency officials will in future also be allowed to access applicants' smartphones in certain cases to help determine their identity and country of origin. Some 50 Afghan citizens were set to be deported on a charter plane from Munich later Wednesday, the third such flight since late last year, drawing protests from Amnesty International and left-wing opposition parties. The EU's top economy -- which has taken in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015 -- last year repatriated some 80,000 people who were denied refugee or asylum status, a process it wants to speed up. While Germany granted safe haven to most people from war-torn Syria, it has argued that it can safely repatriate people to Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, where German troops are part of NATO forces seeking to create stability. Merkel -- who is standing for re-election in September amid a voter backlash over the mass migrant influx -- two weeks ago won agreement from leaders of Germany's 16 state governments on the repatriation plan. Germany also plans to detain people scheduled for deportation if they are considered a threat to public security, or to fit them with electronic ankle bracelets. Among the other planned measures are national "deportation centres" and financial incentives for those who return voluntarily. Photo. Reuters Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. India wants Armenia’s proposals on use of Chabahar port India is expecting proposals from Armenia regarding the use of Chabahar port in Iran, Indian ambassador says. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. |