RT.com
19 Sep 2023, 17:44 GMT+10
?Someone is helping? thousands of asylum seekers reach Italy's Lampedusa, Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk claimed
A senior Polish diplomat has suggested that the recent surge in illegal immigrants arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa might be a component of a Russian hybrid operation designed to erode the European Union's support for Ukraine.
This concern comes in light of a report from the Italian Interior Ministry, which indicates that over 89,000 people have entered Italy illegally this year. Lampedusa, which closer to Tunisia than the mainland and approximately half-way between Libya and Sicily, is beset by a huge intake of migrants, and remains a prominent destination for these arrivals.
"Someone is helping these people walk hundreds if not thousands of kilometers from Nigeria and Central African countries to the Mediterranean Sea," Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk speculated in an interview with Polish Radio on Tuesday.
"Someone who has an interest in it. And Russia undoubtedly has an interest in it," he added.
He asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin's objective is to "destabilize the situation in Western Europe." Mularczyk suggested that the current state of confusion and unrest brought on by illegal immigration serves as a means to divert attention away from the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. According to him, Putin is believed to be exerting influence "behind the scenes" in smuggling individuals into the EU, often facilitated by criminal groups.
"And it was successful because today, the war in Ukraine is fading into the background, and the entire EU is talking about what is happening in Lampedusa," the diplomat stated.
Claims of Russia's alleged involvement in facilitating illegal immigration into Europe have circulated for years. In November 2021, this issue gained prominence when certain EU member states, including Poland, accused Russia's ally, Belarus - and, by extension, Russia - of exploiting migrants seeking asylum in the EU for political purposes.
At that time, President Putin addressed this ongoing challenge, stating that the "key link" of migrant smuggling networks was located within the EU. He argued that European officials were attempting to blame Russia for their own policy shortcomings. According to him, the root causes of the influx of migrants are Western military interventions abroad and the attractive welfare benefits EU nations offer asylum seekers.
"Deal with your internal problems and don't lay on other people [your domestic] issues," the Russian leader suggested.
The ruling conservative Polish government has been openly criticizing Brussels and Western European countries, particularly Germany, for their perceived inadequacies in addressing illegal migration issues and for imposing the burden of hosting migrants on other EU member states.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Japan Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Japan Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration is seeking a delay in the legal battle between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel over their blocked...
SEATTLE/WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said last week that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is...
(250321) -- SHANGHAI, March 21, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Racing Bulls' driver Tsunoda Yuki (L) of Japan drives during the sprint qualifying...
(250321) -- NANJING, March 21, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Woo Sanghyeok of South Korea competes during the men's high jump final at the 2025...
New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): In a historic resolution passed during its First General Assembly, the Indian Himalayan Council...
Jakarta [Indonesia], March 21 (ANI/WAM): The Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in south-central Indonesia erupted three times on Friday,...
Elon Musk's Teslas' are in the running to take over the transport of Israel's government officials. Musk's company, Tesla Inc., has...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration is seeking a delay in the legal battle between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel over their blocked...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks were on the defensive Thursday as investors and traders weighed the Fed's policy decision of a day...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The expansion of U.S. natural gas infrastructure in 2024 significantly boosted the country's ability to transport...
BERLIN, Germany: Audi has announced plans to cut up to 7,500 jobs in Germany by 2029 as part of a broader restructuring aimed at reducing...
SEATTLE/WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said last week that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is...