The Italian foreign ministry summoned
the Austrian ambassador to Rome on Tuesday after Vienna said it
was ready to deploy up to 750 troops at its border at the
Brenner Pass "very soon" unless the flow of migrants from Italy
diminishes.
"I think that border controls will be activated very soon and
an army deployment will be necessary," Austrian Defence Minister
Hans Peter Doskozil was quoted as saying by the Kronen Zeitung
newspaper Tuesday.
He added that the measure will be "indispensable if the flow
of migrants from Italy does not diminish".
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz then defended the
plan.
"Our preparations for controls at the border with Italy are
not only just, but also necessary," Kurz said.
"We are preparing to defend our border at the Brenner if that
is necessary".
Four Austrian military Pandur armoured vehicles have
reportedly been taken to the Brenner Pass and they could be used
in the migration control operations announced as possible by
Doskozil.
Austrian news agency APA reported the measures, including
the deployment of the 750 troops, could be activated within
three days.
The Italian foreign ministry in Rome said in a statement that
the Austrian Ambassador to Rome, René Pollitzer, had been
summoned on Tuesday morning by the ministry's Secretary General,
Ambassador Elisabetta Belloni, "following the declarations of
the Austrian government about the deployment of the troops at
the Brenner".
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