Brussels, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - According to a press release the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has prepared a report on the death last March of 61 immigrants fleeing Libya. The boat they were sailing on was attempting to reach Italy but sank. The Guardian newspaper at the time asserted that the boat had issued several distress signals in the direction of European and NATO boats patrolling the vicinity but that these appeals had been ignored. The newspaper particularly referred to the French Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier in its report and said that despite warnings being sounded by the Italian coastguard and the boat having made contact with at least one NATO military vessel and a helicopter, no rescue operation was attempted. These affirmations were denied by NATO but PACE would like to launch an enquiry nonetheless.
“Declarations from survivors regarding this incident are coherent but we need to continue to gather data and supplementary information to know exactly who was in the zone and at what moment”, explained PACE rapporteur, Tineke Strik, who called on NATO and the EU to send her the satellite images and other relevant information.
The committee on migration also pointed out during a conference that 2011 had been the deadliest year for boat people in the Mediterranean and 1,971 people from North Africa had perished when they had attempted to reach European coastlines: “Never before has the Mediterranean been as closely monitored as this year because of the war in Libya and still more boat people than ever perished or disappeared”, the committee explained. In its report, the committee states it would like to examine the notion of situations of distress. “Is there a common understanding of 'distress situations'? Is it clear which legal framework is applicable and by whom? Do all ships, even warships, have to proceed with rescue operations even if they are situated beyond established search and rescue zones? Where does legal responsibility start and where does political responsibility end?” These are some of the issues that Strik is currently trying to clarify. (SP/transl.fl)