Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on
Friday wrote to Premier Giuseppe Conte reiterating his 'closed
ports' policy and saying that the Netherlands should deal with
the Sea-Watch 3, which has been stuck in international waters
south of Lampedusa for nine days with 43 rescued migrants
aboard.
Salvini, who is also deputy premier and leader of the
anti-migrant League party, said "a fresh energetic initiative of
sensibilisation" was needed towards the Netherlands, given that
the ship, which is run by a German NGO, flies a Dutch flag.
Meanwhile the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, again urged Italy
to let the Sea-Watch migrants land on Lampedusa.
"These desperate people must be disembarked, it is an
obligation sanctioned by international norms," said UNHCR
spokesman Babar Baloch.
"Italy has a responsibility to let these people land," said
Baloch.
"None of them must return", he said, to war-torn Libya which
has no internationally recognised ports of safety.
Salvini has vowed that "none of them will land in Italy".
He reiterated Friday, after the UNHCR appal, that "the
interior ministry decides who gets into Italy".
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