MALMO: Norway's immigration authorities have launched an advertising campaign to deter refugees from seeking asylum in the country.
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration sent out a message on Twitter yesterday morning, warning Afghans planning to cross Norway's border with Russia that they risked forced repatriation to their home country.
Joran Kallmyr, a state secretary in Norway's foreign ministry, confirmed that the tweet was the start of a campaign which would be followed up on Facebook and by newspaper adverts in Russia and other countries.
"Denmark has seen good results from doing this," said Mr Kallmyr. "The aim is to get the number down. The refugees choose where they travel based on what they know about the country. Although Denmark is a safe country, relatively few have sought asylum there."
Denmark's foreign ministry in September published advertisements in four Lebanese newspapers warning Syrian refugees that the country had recently halved the levels of benefits offered to refugees. Of the 13,000
refugees who passed through Denmark in September, only 1,500 applied for asylum.
Mr Kallmyr said the campaign would, among other things, inform potential asylum seekers of the Norwegian government's proposals to cut the benefits they will receive if they win asylum in the country.
Pal Nesse, a senior adviser at the Norwegian Refugee Council, warned that the strategy risked deterring those fleeing persecution.
In 2013, the Home Office ran a much-criticised billboard campaign across six London boroughs warning illegal immigrants to return home.
