Merkel defends Libyan coast guard's treatment of refugees
                 Source: Xinhua | 2017-08-28 20:20:35 | Editor: huaxia

German Chancellor AngelaMerkel speaks during an election rally for Germany's federal election in Fulda, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2017. Germans will elect a new federal parliament on Sept. 24. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has rejected claims on Sunday night that the Libyan coast guard was bringing the migrants and refugees it intercepted to inhumane detention centers in the country.

"The Libyan coast guard delivers these [refugees and migrants] to international organizations," Merkel told tv channel ZDF in the course of her "Summer Interview."

According to the chancellor, the goal was to create humane conditions in Libya which would require annual funding of around 150 million euros (179 million U.S. dollars).

"We currently spend around 50 million, which is still sufficient for the moment, but we would also be willing to give more," she said.

So far, between 12,000 and 15,000 individuals have been intercepted at sea by the Libyan coast guard and brought back to shore.

The new policy was outlined at a recent conference in Berlin between Merkel, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi and Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) William Lacy Swing. Libya constituted a focal point of talks, given the country's emergence as the key transit route for African migrants towards Europe.

Speaking to ZDF, Merkel sought to clarify the purpose of "migration partnerships" with African countries such as Libya. Contrary to some reports, the German government did not envision making decisions on asylum applications locally and posting officials of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) abroad towards this end.

"We cannot establish Bamf-branches there." Merkel said. Much rather, the goal of such partnerships was to provide care for refugees and migrants closer to their homes and to offer legal routes towards employment and training in the European Union instead of illegal migration.

The chancellor cited the existing agreement between Turkey and the European Union as a model for such intensified cooperation with Libya.

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Merkel defends Libyan coast guard's treatment of refugees

Source: Xinhua 2017-08-28 20:20:35

German Chancellor AngelaMerkel speaks during an election rally for Germany's federal election in Fulda, Germany, on Aug. 25, 2017. Germans will elect a new federal parliament on Sept. 24. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has rejected claims on Sunday night that the Libyan coast guard was bringing the migrants and refugees it intercepted to inhumane detention centers in the country.

"The Libyan coast guard delivers these [refugees and migrants] to international organizations," Merkel told tv channel ZDF in the course of her "Summer Interview."

According to the chancellor, the goal was to create humane conditions in Libya which would require annual funding of around 150 million euros (179 million U.S. dollars).

"We currently spend around 50 million, which is still sufficient for the moment, but we would also be willing to give more," she said.

So far, between 12,000 and 15,000 individuals have been intercepted at sea by the Libyan coast guard and brought back to shore.

The new policy was outlined at a recent conference in Berlin between Merkel, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi and Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) William Lacy Swing. Libya constituted a focal point of talks, given the country's emergence as the key transit route for African migrants towards Europe.

Speaking to ZDF, Merkel sought to clarify the purpose of "migration partnerships" with African countries such as Libya. Contrary to some reports, the German government did not envision making decisions on asylum applications locally and posting officials of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) abroad towards this end.

"We cannot establish Bamf-branches there." Merkel said. Much rather, the goal of such partnerships was to provide care for refugees and migrants closer to their homes and to offer legal routes towards employment and training in the European Union instead of illegal migration.

The chancellor cited the existing agreement between Turkey and the European Union as a model for such intensified cooperation with Libya.

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