NATO’s involvement in the refugee issue a dangerous development

 

Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 10th February 2016, Nicosia

 

The goals of Turkey and Germany for the involvement of NATO in the management of the refugee influxes in the Aegean Sea represent a dangerous development. The new measures and mechanisms being promoted by the European Union and NATO are creating obvious dangers for the state sovereignty of their member countries. At the same time, the intensification of the repression exercised against the refugees and the militarization of the refugee crisis forebode more tragedies in the Aegean Sea and the whole of the Mediterranean. NATO’s involvement adds to the creation of a Border and Coast Guard being promoted by the EU that will act even without the approval of EU member states.

Who therefore can trust the war machine called NATO to deal with refugees and civilians? Where will the Syrian civilian refugees end up when their country is still drowned in blood? How will refugees resorting to traffickers be prevented, when the EU has not created any legal and safe framework and paths for the refugees to apply for asylum? Until when will the EU be bargaining and negotiating with Turkey, the lives, safety and dignity of millions of people who are escaping from the fury of war?

AKEL reiterates that a final solution to the refugee crisis cannot be anything other than the end of the bloody civil war in Syria. This can be done if NATO countries and their allies in the area stop once and for all every kind of financing and funding, equipment and trade with the Islamic State organization and stop undermining the forces that are fighting on the IS on the ground.