NATO on how to monitor and deter migrants

Initially approved Feb. 11, as political and military leaders of the alliance had discussed the operational plan in recent days, disagreements emerged between Greece and Turkey.

NATO ships have been operating in the Aegean and conducting monitoring. With the agreement, the alliance will begin providing the surveillance information to Greek and Turkish coast guards.

A statement, issued by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at 1 a.m., said the naval task force commanders will determine where the ships operate. The task force is currently lead by Germany, which pressed for the new NATO mission.

“We will conduct our activities in the Aegean Sea. Our commanders will decide the area where they will be operating, in coordination with Greece and Turkey,” Mr. Stoltenberg said,

The original agreement said Turkish and Greek forces wouldn’t operate in each others territorial water. The statement Thursday reaffirmed that agreement.

The statement also reiterated​ that any migrants rescued by NATO would be returned to Turkey.

Earlier this week Greek officials said Turkey was blocking the operational plan. On Wednesday, Turkish officials played down tensions with Greece and expressed confidence the NATO mission would go forward.

The statement, provided no details on the disagreement and outlined the mission in line with what alliance defense minister agreed to this month.

But Mr. Stoltenberg​ said the value that NATO would bring to the migrant crisis would be to facilitate better communication with Greek and Turkey.

“We will participate in international efforts to cut the lines of illegal trafficking and illegal migration in the Aegean Sea,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “Because this crisis affects us all. And we all have to find solutions.”

source: WSJ