Reply to the statement of the Commander of the European operation Sophia on the training of Libya´s so-called “coastguard”.
“It is cynical, that the commander of the operation Sophia, Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, claims the training of Libyan coastguards could cut the death toll on the med.” Sea-Watch CEO Axel Grafmanns says. “It’s only meant to cut the number of people arriving in Europe, not the number of death on the Mediterranean Sea. There is only one way to cut migrants’ deaths, which is a safe and legal passage”
“We are not against a SAR mission also within the 12 nm zone, as indeed many accidents occur there, however the absolute priority of any training mission has to be an improvement of the humanitarian situation and the SAR capabilities and not to cut down the number of migrants arriving in Europe.” Sea-Watch board member Johannes Bayer states: “Sea-Watch was able to document cases, in which Libyan coastguard carried out forced returns – even far out of territorial waters. These deportations are dictated by the European Union and should be considered as a clear violation of the non-refoulement principle as lives are being put in danger.”