Deputy Premier and Interior Minister
Matteo Salvini said Wednesday that the Sea-Watch ship had
committed a hostile act by defying an order not to go to
Lampedusa and he called on the Netherlands to take in the 42
migrants on board.
The search-and-rescue ship flies the Dutch flag, although it
is run by a German NGO.
"The Dutch government cannot pretend nothing has happened,"
League leader Salvini said.
"A ship flying the flag of the Netherlands has ignored the
bans (on entry) and the orders to stop and it is heading to
Lampedusa.
"It's a provocation and a hostile act. I had written to my
Dutch counterpart and I'm happy that the Italian embassy in The
Hague is taking a formal step with the government of the
Netherlands.
"Italy deserves respect. We expect the Netherlands to take in
to immigrants on broad".
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