"The minister has just ordered her suspension," foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal told AFP following a television report showing the woman in her sailing goods shop in the southwestern Turkish resort town of Bodrum, with a French flag and plaque reading "Consular agency of France" hanging outside.
"Francoise Olcay has been informed of her suspension by France's consul general in Istanbul to which she belongs," Nadal added.
Olcay has held the position since October 2014.
In the footage, which was secretly filmed by France 2 television, she can be seen selling inflatable dinghies and life jackets to migrants and refugees hoping to reach the Greek islands.
Admitting to taking part in the trade, she claims local Turkish authorities are also involved. Asked why she doesn't stop, she says others would only come and take her place.
Bodrum hit the headlines earlier this month after images of a drowned Syrian toddler lying on the beach sparked shock around the world over the dangers faced by refugees desperate to reach Europe.
Three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, his four-year-old brother and his mother drowned along with nine other Syrians when two boats capsized as they were trying to sail to the Greek island of Kos.
Honorary consuls, who perform their duties without being paid, are public servants who enjoy a special status which allows them to also engage in paid professional work. They are not professional diplomats.
(AFP)
france24.com
12/9/15
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At least 34 people have drowned after a boat illegally carrying at least 100 migrants to Greek islands capsized in the Aegean Sea on Sunday, Greek media reported...
ReplyDeleteThe Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANAmpa) said the tragedy unfolded early Sunday morning as the boat capsized in waters east of Farmakonisi Island.
According to the agency, four infants, 11 children and 10 women are among those who have drowned.
The Search and Rescue Coordination Centre of Greek Ministry of Maritime was informed about the capsizing of a wooden boat with refugees trying to reach Greek Farmokonisi Island and launched a helicopter supported rescuing operation.
ANAmpa said that the teams rescued 68 people, whereas another 29 reached the shore unaided.
The agency says the search and rescue operations continue as the exact number of people in the boat is unknown.
As the Syrian conflict between opposition armed groups and Bashar al-Assad’s regime forces entered its fifth year, millions of Syrians have fled to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and other nearby countries.
Tens of thousands refugees, mainly Syrian, are heading EU countries putting their lives in danger to reach Greek islands from Turkey with unsecure boats.
Their perilous journey continues through Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary to reach Austria, Germany or other EU countries.
Europe, which is facing what is described as the worst refugee crisis in the continent since the World War II, recently decided to accept up to 140,000 refugees, while the Obama administration said Thursday that it would allow as many as 10,000 Syrian refugees into the U.S. during the 2016 fiscal year.
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/592673--at-least-34-drowned-as-boat-capsizes-in-aegean-sea