Italy cannot be 'Europe's refugee camp', says new Deputy PM Salvini

[TomSea]

Italy cannot be 'Europe's refugee camp', says new Deputy PM Salvini
MEE and agencies
Sunday 3 June 2018 22:50 UTC

Italy's new hardline minister Matteo Salvini said on Sunday that "common sense" was needed to stop the country from being "Europe's refugee camp" as he visited a migrant centre in the south.

The newly minted deputy prime minister and interior minister in Italy's populist coalition government travelled to Sicily, one of the country's main refugee landing points, to push the anti-immigration platform that propelled him to power.

"Italy and Sicily cannot be Europe's refugee camp," he told a crowd of supporters under the blazing sun in the southern Sicilian town of Pozzallo, a migration hotspot.

Read more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/italy-cannot-be-europes-refugee-camp-says-new-deputy-pm-salvini-1847948894

Just like it seems we have been a safety valve, fallback for Mexico and they are not the only country by any means.

[Fishrrman]

That's a welcome statement from Mr. Salvini, but words are one thing and the actions to back them up are another.

What Italy must do is start turning back the migrant (smugglers) boats immediately after they leave the waters of the African country from which they're originating (Libya?).

If necessary, the progress of the boats must be restrained and re-directed........ forcefully.

Nothing less will do, because nothing less will dissuade the migrants (and smugglers) from "taking a chance" at getting across.

This may even mean sinking a few boats (with all on board) until others "get the message".

Cruel?
Yes.
But... do we want to end this illegal migration, or don't we?
Or... will we accept this as Europe's final fate?

[TomSea]

Well, a lot of those coming from Africa may not be Muslims... still, anyone would say anything to be accepted into Europe. So we can't just assume they will be honest.

A problem arises in "where do we deport them to?". Believe me, that is a real problem. Sure, behind the keyboard, one could just say "kick 'em out" but the real world may be more complex.

[endicom]

A problem arises in "where do we deport them to?". Believe me, that is a real problem. Sure, behind the keyboard, one could just say "kick 'em out" but the real world may be more complex.

All the more reason to not create the problem.

[endicom]

That's a welcome statement from Mr. Salvini, but words are one thing and the actions to back them up are another.

What Italy must do is start turning back the migrant (smugglers) boats immediately after they leave the waters of the African country from which they're originating (Libya?).

If necessary, the progress of the boats must be restrained and re-directed........ forcefully.

Nothing less will do, because nothing less will dissuade the migrants (and smugglers) from "taking a chance" at getting across.

They can't while under the thumb of the EU. Look at the economic sanctions the EU wants to employ against the recalcitrant Eastern European nations.

[TomSea]

All the more reason to not create the problem.

And the refugees are already there in Italy. Did Salvino say he'd deport 500,000 or maybe it's 50,000... but a more precise question would be what created the problem? Some of it is that region being destabilized over in Greece and Turkey though, in Italy, most of these people are Subsaharan and apparently, Northern Africa, Tunisians, Algerians, that kind of thing. So, it remains a complex question.

[endicom]

And the refugees are already there in Italy. Did Salvino say he'd deport 500,000 or maybe it's 50,000... but a more precise question would be what created the problem? Some of it is that region being destabilized over in Greece and Turkey though, in Italy, most of these people are Subsaharan and apparently, Northern Africa, Tunisians, Algerians, that kind of thing. So, it remains a complex question.

I recall Berlusconi not wanting to overturn Gaddafi but being overruled. Here's the Wikipedia account:

On 30 August 2008, the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi signed a historic cooperation treaty in Benghazi.[130][131][132] Under its terms, Italy would pay $5 billion to Libya as compensation for its former military occupation. In exchange, Libya would take measures to combat illegal immigration coming from its shores and boost investment in Italian companies.[131][133] The treaty was ratified by the Italian government on 6 February 2009,[130] and by Libya on 2 March, during a visit to Tripoli by Berlusconi.[131][134] In June Gaddafi made his first visit to Rome, where he met Prime Minister Berlusconi, Italian President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano and Senate's Speaker Renato Schifani.[131]

Gaddafi also took part in the G8 summit in L'Aquila in July as Chairman of the African Union.[131] During the summit a warm handshake between US President Barack Obama and Muammar Gaddafi took place (the first time the Libyan leader had been greeted by a serving US president).[135] Later, at the summit's official dinner hosted by President Giorgio Napolitano, US and Libyan leaders upset protocol by sitting next to Italian Prime Minister and G8 host Berlusconi. (According to protocol, Gaddafi should have sat three places away from Berlusconi).[136][137][138]

However, when Gaddafi faced a civil war in 2011, Italy imposed a freeze on some Libyan assets linked to him and his family, pursuant to a United Nations-sponsored regime[139] and then bombed the country with the violation of Libya of the No-Fly Zone. After the death of Gaddafi, Italy recognized the National Transitional Council as the government of Libya.


Why would the Italians want Gaddafi overturned after all they'd put into cooperating with him? IMO, that operation reeked, from start to finish, from Berlin to Benghazi.


 

[dfwgator]

Why would the Italians want Gaddafi overturned after all they'd put into cooperating with him? IMO, that operation reeked, from start to finish, from Berlin to Benghazi.

"We Came, We Saw, He Died!"

[endicom]

"We Came, We Saw, He Died!"

And so died much of North Africa and the Middle East with southern Europe taking an unaffordable financial hit.

 

[TomSea]

Libya, Gaddafi being overthrown though, still remains just a part of the problem.

I think "African Hookers" has been a phenomenon in Italy for quite some time, while Gaddafi was still in power.

Tunisia per the story posted today, is where a lot of the refugees depart from.


And the above map does not even show Spain, where seemingly, a lot go from Morocco.

[dfwgator]

And so died much of North Africa and the Middle East with southern Europe taking an unaffordable financial hit.

Thanks, Hillary.

[TomSea]

The problem is a lot worse now; but this problem existed before Gaddaffi was out. This document from the UN shows so:

http://www.unicri.it/services/library_documentation/publications/unicri_series/trafficking_nigeria-italy.pdf

[TomSea]

I don't want to understate Libya's role in this, not only have we seen ISIS there but they sell slaves there. That has been in the news, whether it happened under Gaddafi as well, I have no idea. Undoubtedly, Libya is a faux pas, I just don't know exactly who made all of the decisions on this. Nato? USA? It sure struck me as strange when Obama came on the air that night for a national televised speech and said all of this and it also struck me as uncharacteristic. Maybe then, SOS, Clinton talked him into it.