Ljubljana, Dec 12 (NationPress) Slovenia is actively processing asylum applications from Syrian citizens, despite the recent changes following the fall of the Assad regime, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry.

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon informed the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee on Tuesday that the primary objective concerning Syrian asylum requests is to protect civilians, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

She emphasized, "The last thing we want is secondary migration of Syrian applicants due to stricter rhetoric in some EU member states," and advocated for a unified approach among European Union (EU) member states concerning Syrian refugees.

The Interior Ministry noted that the interior ministers of Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy held a phone discussion regarding the situation in Syria on Tuesday and agreed to continue their talks during the upcoming Brussels meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday.

"We are not halting the processing of asylum requests; however, we will evaluate the newly changed conditions and facts that may affect the duration of the procedures for Syrian citizens," stated the Interior Ministry.

The ministry also mentioned that police have intensified border controls at the Slovenian borders with Croatia and Hungary to combat terrorism and illegal migration potentially linked to the developments in Syria.

Fajon remarked that Slovenia has not received a substantial number of asylum applications from Syrian citizens in recent years, having granted asylum to approximately 30 Syrians last year and 15 in 2022.

She called for a comprehensive and stable transition in Syria, stating, "Syria is at a crucial crossroads: peace or war, freedom or lawlessness, prosperity or poverty; its future largely hinges on the circumstances of this political transition."