Russia to vet EU smuggler op request 'v.carefully' - update2

(ANSA) - Brussels, May 19 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday Moscow "will examine in the most precise way possible all the nuances" of an EU request for a UN Security Council mandate to fight migrant smugglers in Libya "so there isn't a double meaning in what may be given to the EU". The proposed mission, headquartered in Rome and led by an Italian admiral with experience in destroying Somali pirate boats, Enrico Credendino, was OK'd by EU foreign and defence ministers Monday and aims to get a UN mandate before being greenlit by the EU late next month.
    The drive to resolve the Mediterranean migrant crisis also includes setting up processing centres in transit countries and sharing the burden of asylum seekers across the EU as much as possible to ease the pressure on Italy, Greece and Malta.
    There has been widening division over the initial agreement on migrant quotas.
    Several countries, including Britain, Denmark and Ireland, are able to opt out and most Eastern European countries want to follow suit.
    Meanwhile France and Spain this week voiced reservations about the initial deal.