Austrian Foreign Minister
Sebastian Kurz on Thursday said Italy should stop transferring
illegal migrants from its islands to the mainland during a
meeting with his Italian counterpart in Vienna.
"We demand that the transfer of illegal migrants from Italian
islands like Lampedusa to the mainland stop", Kurz was quoted as
saying by Austrian news agency APA after the meeting with
Alfano.
Kurz also said Austria indents to close its border at the
Brenner Pass to secure its border if Italy lets migrants
through.
Kurz said the meeting with Alfano was "correct" although they
did not share "the same position".
"If Italy were to continue its timely transfers on the
mainland, from which migrants proceed northwards, not only will
Central Europe be overwhelmed, but drownings will continue",
Kurz said, noting that rescue operations in the Mediterranean
"should not be a ticket for Central Europe".
Earlier this month, the Italian foreign ministry summoned the
Austrian ambassador to Rome after Vienna said it was ready to
deploy up to 750 troops at the Brenner Pass "very soon" unless
the flow of migrants from Italy diminishes.
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