This could be significant news in Europe. Italy has closed its ports to an NGO ship carrying over 600 migrants picked up off the coast of Libya. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has notified Maltese authorities that if they will not accept the ship, Italy will close its ports.
Under international law, refugees picked up at sea should be delivered to the nearest safe port. Yet, refugees picked up in the Mediterranean are routinely taken to Italy rather than Malta or Tunisia. The below report is translated to English by Fousesquawk.
http://www.cagliaripad.it/317034/migranti-salvini-porti-italiani-chiusi-stop-nave-600-persone
Salvini: "Italian Ports Closed. A stop to the boat with 600 people
Italian ports are closed to the disembarkation of migrants after a rescue occurred last night on the part of the boat, Aquarius, (which) requested authorization to dock and was directed to Europe. If confirmed. it would be an action without precedent decided by Matteo Salvini.
There were 629 migrants on board the Aquarius of SOS Mediteranee, with personnel from Doctors Without Borders, which was making its way toward a secure port not yet assigned. Among them, there were 123 unaccompanied minors , 11 children, and 7 pregnant women. There were a total of six rescue operations carried out.
According to what Salvini has also declared in a letter sent to the Maltese authorities, if the island state will not permit it (the boat) to dock, a block wanted by the (Northern) League deputy prime minister will begin and the boat will not be allowed to land in Italy.
According to the Times of Malta article below, Malta is resisting Italian demands.
https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180610/local/malta-italy-in-second-migrants-standoff-in-three-days.681395
I would also note that the ship, Aquarius, is owned by Doctors without borders and receives funding from George Soros.
*Update: The mayors of 4 Italian port cities, Palermo, Naples, Messina, and Reggio Calabria have announced that their ports would welcome the migrant ships.
There were 629 migrants on board the Aquarius of SOS Mediteranee, with personnel from Doctors Without Borders, which was making its way toward a secure port not yet assigned. Among them, there were 123 unaccompanied minors , 11 children, and 7 pregnant women. There were a total of six rescue operations carried out.
According to what Salvini has also declared in a letter sent to the Maltese authorities, if the island state will not permit it (the boat) to dock, a block wanted by the (Northern) League deputy prime minister will begin and the boat will not be allowed to land in Italy.
According to the Times of Malta article below, Malta is resisting Italian demands.
https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180610/local/malta-italy-in-second-migrants-standoff-in-three-days.681395
I would also note that the ship, Aquarius, is owned by Doctors without borders and receives funding from George Soros.
*Update: The mayors of 4 Italian port cities, Palermo, Naples, Messina, and Reggio Calabria have announced that their ports would welcome the migrant ships.
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