The Libyan coast guard implicated by an NGO
(B2) The Libyan coastguard is at the heart of a controversy after having intervened in a muscular way in the rescue of a boat with 493 migrants on board. The NGO Sea Watch published a video showing how these interposed, brushing against a collision between the ships, and forcibly brought the migrants ashore. The German NGO claims that one of its zodiacs had already approached the migrant boat in international waters. Which supposes, normally, according to them, their transfer to Italy (1).
Asked by colleagues at the midday briefing, the spokesperson for the High Representative did not want to comment on this incident. (communicated)
(1) This "rule" is, in our view, merely optional. Italy has undertaken to welcome the refugees collected on the High Seas. And in the absence of Libyan authority, the sea rescue center in Rome has extended its field of action beyond its usual zone.