NATO's level of involvement in migration crisis remains undecided
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged on Monday that they will seek NATO's involvement in the ongoing refugee and migrant crisis in order to support Turkey and Greece in the fight against human trafficking. NATO officials told Daily Sabah on Tuesday that NATO is not directly involved in responding to the migration crisis at present.
Davutoğlu and Merkel said on Monday at a joint press conference in Ankara that both NATO allies will seek NATO's mobilization in the fight against illegal trafficking on the Aegean coast. "Both countries will work to enhance information sharing to tackle human trafficking. On Thursday, there will be a NATO defense ministers summit. [Germany and Turkey] will carry out joint efforts for further NATO involvement in the crisis through enhanced use of NATO's observation capabilities at the border with Syria and on the Aegean Sea," Davutoğlu said. Merkel said: "We will use the NATO defense ministers meeting to discuss the situation in Syria as well as whether and to what extent NATO can help in monitoring the situation at sea and lend support to Frontex and the Turkish Coast Guard," at the joint press conference on Monday.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg replied to the joint request on Tuesday and said that they will take any request to help with the refugee crisis: "I think we will take very seriously the request from Turkey and other allies to look into what NATO can do to help them cope and deal with the crisis and all the challenges they face, not least in Turkey," Stoltenberg told a news conference on Tuesday.
Greece has raised its concerns about NATO's involvement in the migrant crisis. Speaking with Merkel over the phone on Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that NATO's potential involvement will be in Turkish territory and that such a development must not affect Greek sovereignty. Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said on Tuesday that joint Greek-Turkish patrols were previously rejected.
A NATO official told Daily Sabah that at present NATO is not directly involved in responding to the migration crisis. "In December 2015, we decided on a package of assurance measures for Turkey due to the volatile situation in the region. This package includes, among other forms of support, increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets and maritime patrol aircraft flights. It also includes an increased naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean," the official said.
NATO defense ministers are expected to hold intense talks on this issue at Thursday's summit to find a possible solution for enhanced use of NATO's observation capabilities at the border with Syria and on the Aegean Sea.
Davutoğlu and Merkel said on Monday at a joint press conference in Ankara that both NATO allies will seek NATO's mobilization in the fight against illegal trafficking on the Aegean coast. "Both countries will work to enhance information sharing to tackle human trafficking. On Thursday, there will be a NATO defense ministers summit. [Germany and Turkey] will carry out joint efforts for further NATO involvement in the crisis through enhanced use of NATO's observation capabilities at the border with Syria and on the Aegean Sea," Davutoğlu said. Merkel said: "We will use the NATO defense ministers meeting to discuss the situation in Syria as well as whether and to what extent NATO can help in monitoring the situation at sea and lend support to Frontex and the Turkish Coast Guard," at the joint press conference on Monday.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg replied to the joint request on Tuesday and said that they will take any request to help with the refugee crisis: "I think we will take very seriously the request from Turkey and other allies to look into what NATO can do to help them cope and deal with the crisis and all the challenges they face, not least in Turkey," Stoltenberg told a news conference on Tuesday.
Greece has raised its concerns about NATO's involvement in the migrant crisis. Speaking with Merkel over the phone on Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that NATO's potential involvement will be in Turkish territory and that such a development must not affect Greek sovereignty. Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said on Tuesday that joint Greek-Turkish patrols were previously rejected.
A NATO official told Daily Sabah that at present NATO is not directly involved in responding to the migration crisis. "In December 2015, we decided on a package of assurance measures for Turkey due to the volatile situation in the region. This package includes, among other forms of support, increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets and maritime patrol aircraft flights. It also includes an increased naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean," the official said.
NATO defense ministers are expected to hold intense talks on this issue at Thursday's summit to find a possible solution for enhanced use of NATO's observation capabilities at the border with Syria and on the Aegean Sea.
Last Update: February 09, 2016 22:35