NATO willing to patrol sea between Turkey and Greece to stop people-smugglers. Greek and Turkish armed forces will not operate in each other’s territorial waters or air space

NATO is willing to support a German, Greek and Turkish request for a maritime mission to help monitor Turkey's Aegean Sea coast for migrant smugglers, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Thursday.

"NATO and all the parties at the table this morning indicated a willingness for NATO to support and be a part of that operation," Carter said after a meeting of defence ministers at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels.

"All three of those countries emphasised the need for NATO to act quickly, with which the United States strongly agrees, because this are people's lives and destinies at stake here."

Carter said military planners will now look at the issue and report back to NATO for final approval.

According to the BBC, Carter told the press conference that old a press conference that targeting the "criminal syndicate that is exploiting these poor people" would have the largest humanitarian impact.

German government sources said Thursday that the three countries wanted NATO to begin surveillance of the Aegean Sea to provide a "clear view" of how people smugglers are operating along the Turkish coast.......http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/102491-160211-nato-willing-to-patrol-sea-between-turkey-and-greece-to-stop-people-smugglers
11/2/16
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• Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Defence Ministers - Opening remarks...

"Good afternoon.

We have just addressed how our Alliance is responding to a changed security environment.

Europe is facing the greatest refugee and migrant crisis since the end of the Second World War.

Driven by conflict and instability on our southern borders, as well as the criminal networks that traffic in human suffering.

We have just agreed that NATO will provide support to assist with the refugee and migrant crisis.

This is based on a joint request by Germany, Greece and Turkey.

The goal is to participate in the international efforts to stem the illegal trafficking and illegal migration in the Aegean.

NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2, is currently deployed in the region under German command. 

It will be tasked to conduct reconnaissance, monitoring and surveillance of the illegal crossings in the Aegean sea in cooperation with relevant authorities.

And to establish a direct link with the European Union’s border management agency Frontex.

As part of the agreement, Greek and Turkish armed forces will not operate in each other’s territorial waters or air space"....http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_127972.htm
11/2/16
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Related:

• L'Otan doit examiner si elle a un rôle à jouer dans la crise migratoire 

• España no contempla que la OTAN controle fronteras UE por la crisis de los refugiados

• NATO takes call on aid for migrant crisis ‘seriously’