Italy’s Salvini Calls For Malta To Accept Ship Carrying 239 Currently Floating In Maltese Waters
An German NGO’s ship carrying 239 migrants is the latest vessel to be used in an ongoing diplomatic spate between Italy and Malta. Italy’s deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has asked the ship to head to Malta now that the ship has entered Maltese waters.
“For the safety of the crew and passenger safety we have requested that Malta open the ports. It is clear that then that ship will have to be seized, and its crew stopped,” the deputy prime minister tweeted.
The Maltese government has yet to respond.
La NAVE FUORILEGGE #Lifeline è ora in acque di Malta, col suo carico di 239 immigrati.
Per sicurezza di equipaggio e passeggeri abbiamo chiesto che Malta apra i porti.
Chiaro che poi quella nave dovrà essere sequestrata, ed il suo equipaggio fermato.
Mai più in mare a trafficare.— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) 22 June 2018
#THECUBE | Mission Lifeline says politics must not put lives in danger. pic.twitter.com/ULzbXAq9HN
— euronews (@euronews) 22 June 2018
The Italian government may begin impounding charity vessels that arrive in its ports
The Italian government originally told the Lifeline, which is a Dutch-flagged vessel, to take the migrants they had picked up from the Mediterranean to the Netherlands and not Italy, before the Italian Transport Minister said it would be too unsafe for them to do so. There were attempts from Rome to contact the Libyan coastguard on Thursday for assistance, but they received no reply from Libya, the Times of Malta reported.
This comes ahead of a key summit between European leaders this Sunday where migration is set to be high on the agenda. Salvini’s strong messages over the last few weeks has set the stage and his posturing is leading to renewed talks on migration in the Mediterranean.
The Italian government had previously said they would accept the migrants on a charity vessel but will impound the vessel, indicating the direction the Italian government is heading.
This is the latest ship to head to Malta following the Aquarius row, which saw 629 migrants, including babies and children, left at sea between Italy and Malta before Spain stepped in and offered to take them.
What do you think should happen to the Lifeline?
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