German minister says Balkan refugee wave 'unacceptable'

Germany's interior minister said Thursday it was "unacceptable" that 40 percent of a record wave of asylum-seekers in his country were from the Balkans, calling it "an embarrassment for Europe".

Thomas de Maiziere also condemned a spate of anti-foreigner protests and hate crimes sparked by the influx, including arson attacks against shelters, calling them "incomprehensible, unacceptable and unworthy of our country".

Germany, the EU's most populous country, has struggled to accommodate a flood of asylum seekers from war zones such as Syria but also from countries without military conflict in southeastern Europe, including Albania, Serbia and Kosovo.

"It is a major challenge, which we will meet. It is not insurmountable for a large and rich country like ours," said de Maiziere while visiting a large refugee camp in the eastern city of Eisenhuettenstadt.

"The key is that we differentiate between those who need protection and those who do not," he said.

"Here in Eisenhuettenstadt, the largest group is from Syria, but the second and third countries of origin are Serbia and Albania."

So far this year, 40 percent of asylum-seekers who arrived in Germany were from Balkan countries, he said, calling it "unacceptable and an embarrassment for Europe".

Germany has in recent days started airing public service announcements on TV in Balkans countries urging people to stay home and stressing that if they leave for economic reasons, they have almost no chance of political asylum.