ekathimerini.com | EU wants Turkey and Libya to help fight illegal immigration
STOCKHOLM (AFP) – The European Union will soon undertake tricky political talks with Turkey and Libya as they look for their help in cracking down on people-smuggling rings to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into Europe.
But some of the demands Ankara and Tripoli are making in exchange for their help could prove complicated.
EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot, in Stockholm for a meeting of European Union justice and home affairs ministers on Thursday and yesterday, told reporters he was preparing visits to the two countries.
“I plan to travel to Libya after the summer break and to Turkey in September or October,” Barrot said, adding that he expected “an official invitation” from Turkey’s interior minister soon. The fight against illegal immigration “can only be fought by resolving two issues: ties with Turkey and Libya,” French Immigration Minister Eric Besson told AFP.
“When it comes to Turkey, their willingness to cooperate with the EU needs to be tested,” he added. “The first comments by Turkey’s interior minister have been encouraging. But now we have to see the concrete details.”
The 27-member bloc wants Turkey and Libya to crack down on the organized people-smuggling rings and to agree to take back the illegal immigrants who departed from their coasts, Barrot said.
Barrot is determined to curb the influx of illegal immigrants, which threatens to destabilize some countries in Europe – such as Greece – and hampers EU efforts to handle legitimate asylum requests.
“If we don’t link migration to development and diplomacy we won’t succeed,” he warned.
Yet a number of obstacles remain before Turkey agrees to cooperate with the EU.
“Turkey is ready to sign readmission agreements” to take back immigrants who left from its territory,” Barrot said.
“But it says it is merely a transit country and wants similar agreements signed with Pakistan and Afghanistan” to enable Ankara to send back the immigrants who came from those countries, he added.
timesofmalta.com - Turkish visa applications for Malta visits rising fastMonday, 15th June 2009 - 12:54CET
The number of visa applications in Turkey for travel to Malta has risen to some 50 per week since a Consulate General for Malta was opened in Istanbul, the Foreign Ministry said.
The Consul General, Simon Pullicino, was appointed three months ago and has since boosted promotion for Malta, with tourism posters now featuring in all metro stations in Istanbul.
The ministry said most visa applications were from young people wishing to learn English or follow tertiary education in Malta.
Mr Pullicino last week made a courtesy call on the Governor of Istanbul, Muammar Guler at the Bab-i-ali (Supreme Gate)Palace overlooking the entrance to the Golden Horn.
The Governor congratulated the Consul General on his appointment and welcomed the decision by the Maltese authorities to appoint a career Consul General in Istanbul. He was sure this would consolidate the excellent relations between both countries and to stimulate trade, cultural and maritime exchanges between both countries.
timesofmalta.com - UNHCR award to Turkish ship in migrants' rescueThursday, 11th June 2009 - 09:52CET
The migrants on board the Pinar E.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Turkey has announced it will present the Hope Refugee Award to the captain of the Turkish cargo ship Pinar E, Asik Tuygun, and owner Baris Erdogdu.
UNHCR's Turkey representative Michel Gaude, told a press conference said that Mr Tuygun and Mr Erdogdu said this was recognition of the way the ship had saved 142 migrants when the refugees were about to die in the sea.
"The award is given to those individuals who help refugees in difficult conditions and make their lives easier. We hope that the behaviour of captain Asik and owner Erdogdu will be a good role model," Gaude was quoted as saying by Turkish media.
The ship picked up the migrants off the Italian island of Lampedusa, and a diplomatic storm then developed as Italy refused to allow them in, and so did Malta.
Italy argued that Malta was responsible for the search and rescue region and should therefore take the migrants, while Malta said the migrants should be taken to the nearest safe port.
Italy eventually relented and the migrants were taken to Sicily.
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