NATO to take migrant crisis aid requests �very seriously�

AFP, BRUSSELS:  NATO will take any request to help with the refugee crisis “very seriously”, chief Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday after Germany and Turkey agreed to seek its assistance in combatting human smugglers.
Defence ministers from the 28-nation alliance will discuss the issue at a meeting in Brussels Wednesday and Thursday when they will review NATO’s response to a more assertive Russia and the security threat posed by the Syria crisis.
“I think we will take very seriously the request from Turkey and other allies to look into what NATO can do to help them cope and deal with the crisis and all the challenges they face, not least in Turkey, “ Stoltenberg told a news conference.
Former Norwegian premier Stoltenberg said he had spoken with the Turkish and German defence ministers Tuesday to discuss the issue, adding that the migration crisis was “of great concern for all of us”.
“I expect the ministers to discuss the request from Turkey and then agree on how we can follow up,” he said, stressing that nothing as yet had been decided.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on a visit to Ankara on Monday that Turkey and Germany would ask NATO to help police the Turkish coast to prevent smugglers from packing migrants into overloaded boats for the perilous crossing to Greece.

 

NATO to take migrant crisis aid requests �very seriously�

AFP, BRUSSELS: NATO will take any request to help with the refugee crisis very seriously, chief Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday after Germany and Turkey agreed to seek its assistance in combatting human smugglers. Defence ministers from the 28-nation alliance will discuss the issue at a meeting in Brussels Wednesday and Thursday when they will review NATOs response to a more assertive Russia and the security threat posed by the Syria crisis. I think we will take very seriously the request from Turkey and other allies to look into what NATO can do to help them cope and deal with the crisis and all the challenges they face, not least in Turkey, Stoltenberg told a news conference. Former Norwegian premier Stoltenberg said he had spoken with the Turkish and German defence ministers Tuesday to discuss the issue, adding that the migration crisis was of great concern for all of us. I expect the ministers to discuss the request from Turkey and then agree on how we can follow up, he said, stressing that nothing as yet had been decided. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on a visit to Ankara on Monday that Turkey and Germany would ask NATO to help police the Turkish coast to prevent smugglers from packing migrants into overloaded boats for the perilous crossing to Greece.