Hungary plans to build a 70-kilometer long fence along the southern part of its border with Romania to prevent clandestine immigrants from entering the country, Hungary’s Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday.

Hungary’s intention, which was first made public on Tuesday, has led to a tense diplomatic situation between the two neighboring countries. The Romanian Prime Minister’s statements about the way Hungary treats the refugees determined angry responses from Budapest officials.

The razor wire fence at Romania’s western border will be an extension of the one Hungary has already built at its frontier with Serbia to stop the refugee wave. Hungary closed its border with Serbia on Wednesday and refused to allow any refugees to enter its territory, which led to violent confrontations between the Hungarian border police and the refugees. Several hundred people were wounded.

After Hungary closed its border, many refugees in Serbia went to Croatia trying to find an alternative route to get to Western Europe, which is their primary target. Only two refugees were reportedly found trying to enter Romania, and only because they thought it was Hungary.

However, the Hungarian officials believe that more refugees will try to enter Hungary through Romania, and that’s why they started building the fence. Hungarian officials also said the fence would be extended to the Croatian border as well.

Romania’s Government expressed its disapproval with the way Hungary has handled the refugee situation so far. “The building of a fence at Hungary’s borders with its neighbors to stop the refugee wave is nonconforming with EU rules,” Romania’s Government said in an official statement.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Monday that Romania would not treat refugees as its neighbor Hungary, “with the club”, which determined an angry response from Budapest officials, who said that Ponta was lying and making extremist comments about Hungary.

Ponta added to the conflict on Wednesday by writing on Facebook that Hungarian officials were a disgrace for EU’s culture and values, to which Hungary’s Foreign Affairs Minister replied that Ponta has lost his self-control.

Reuters: Hungary plans to raise a fence at its Romanian border in case refugees change their routes

editor@romania-insider.com