Europe's Refugee Crisis On Agenda For NATO Ministers
Turkey, Germany have asked for help in stemming flow of Syrians, combating smugglers.
Defense ministers from NATO’s 28 member states gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss issues including Turkey’s request for help in dealing with the flow of Syrian refugees.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of the meeting that members understood Turkey’s concerns.
“When ally Turkey and also other allies raise a question of what NATO can do to help them manage the crisis we will look seriously into the request and discuss how we can follow-up,” he said.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday agreed to ask NATO to provide “observation and surveillance mechanisms” on the Syrian border and in the Aegean Sea, where smugglers are risking refugees’ lives in the perilous crossing to Greece.
Stoltenberg did not say if NATO’s assistance would extend to air or sea missions to combat people trafficking.
“Those are the issues we are looking to discuss and find out how and if NATO is going to provide these assets to fight the smugglers,” he said.
The passage of Syrian refugees through Turkey and on to Europe emerged as a major crisis towards the end of last year, when 1.1 million refugees crossed into Europe -- around 850,000 via Turkey. In addition, Turkey is hosting 2.7 million Syrians who have fled the five-year conflict.
Kaynak: AA
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of the meeting that members understood Turkey’s concerns.
“When ally Turkey and also other allies raise a question of what NATO can do to help them manage the crisis we will look seriously into the request and discuss how we can follow-up,” he said.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday agreed to ask NATO to provide “observation and surveillance mechanisms” on the Syrian border and in the Aegean Sea, where smugglers are risking refugees’ lives in the perilous crossing to Greece.
Stoltenberg did not say if NATO’s assistance would extend to air or sea missions to combat people trafficking.
“Those are the issues we are looking to discuss and find out how and if NATO is going to provide these assets to fight the smugglers,” he said.
The passage of Syrian refugees through Turkey and on to Europe emerged as a major crisis towards the end of last year, when 1.1 million refugees crossed into Europe -- around 850,000 via Turkey. In addition, Turkey is hosting 2.7 million Syrians who have fled the five-year conflict.