Return to Transcripts main page

CNN World Report

Ukraine Curbs Illegal Immigration

Aired July 08, 2001 - 14:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Germany is opening its doors to immigrants in hopes of easing severe labor shortages. The government plans to admit 50,000 immigrants a year to offset a population dwindling from a persistent low birth rate. The move comes as the rest of Europe tries to curb a marked rise in illegal immigration.

Studio One Plus One examines how Ukraine is dealing with a human trafficking problem there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IHOR SLISSARENKO, STUDIO ONE PLUS ONE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This man claims to be from India. He has just walked 4,000 kilometers from Russia to reach Ukraine's border. He wanted to reunite with his relatives in Britain and paid $5,000 U.S. dollars to a travel agency in India to the tour in Russia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The friendship very good. The Russians have been there to guide the journey.

SLISSARENKO: Now with his fellow immigrants, spend a few days in this town with no furniture, before being deported back to Russia. But says immigration border police, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), those who claimed they served in the armed forces and the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan in the '80s. And now has been under death threat from fundamental Taleban terrorists.

The main problem for the border police is, how to manage the people who usually do not have any money.

VOLODYMYR MITINCHUK, BORDER POLICE (through translator): This is a real headache to us. We don't receive any funds from the government to keep them well enough.

SLISSARENKO: The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of those people are a very profitable business for others. The whole street from the east to the west of Ukraine cost $150 U.S. This money are collected by so-called taxes. The last (UNINTELLIGIBLE) who assist in crossing the border just for $5 per person.

And this is the only way for many unemployed locals to support their families.

Channel One Plus One, Ukraine, for the CNN "WORLD REPORT." (END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com