February 12, 2016

Europe tries to solve refugee crisis with the NATO

editor:	Ama Lorenz

NATO yesterday announced that it was sending three naval ships to the Aegean to help “stem the flow” of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe, and will carry out surveillance of human traffickers, criminal networks and irregular crossings to Greece.

AThat happened due to a call by the alliance members Germany, Greece and Turkey earlier this week.

A direct intervention of NATO ships is not planeed, so the reports. "It is not about to stop refugee boats and push them back", NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. Only in emergencies,
NATO ships should save refugees, but then return them immediately to Turkey. That it's what was "agreed fixed" with Ankara, said German Defence minister von der Leyen. This also applies if the people would be saved in Greek waters.

To make this possible, Greece probably wants to declare Turkey to a safe third country, so the landed refugees could be returned directly back to the neighboring country on the Greek Aegean Islands.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave himself however unfazed by the pressure of Germany and other NATO and European Union partners - also facing demands to include tens of thousands more refugees from Syria. "There is not the word 'idiot' written on our foreheads," he said in Ankara. "We will do what we have to do. Do not think that the planes and buses are there for nothing."

Erdogan also confirmed media reports that he had threatened in November the EU to fully open the 2.5 million refugees in his country the borders towards the EU.

Human rights organizationa like Amnesty International are warning Europe should immediately implement and scale up plans to resettle refugees from Turkey. Offering legal and safe alternatives would be the only measure likely to deter people from dangerous and irregular sea crossings.

“Hundreds of refugees, including many children, have already died this year attempting the treacherous journey across the Aegean. Any NATO ships that witness a boat in distress must provide immediate life-saving assistance,” said Iverna McGowan, Head of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.

“In no way must NATO forces become yet one more barrier between refugees and the international protection they are legally entitled to. Intercepting refugees attempting to reach Europe and pushing them back to Turkey - where 2.5 million are already hosted - would be a serious violation of their right to claim asylum, and would fly in the face of international law.”