[ISIS] is a terrorist organization. Turkey has been taking very tight measures against [ISIS] with all the
capabilities the government has. It is also actively participating in the International Coalition against [ISIS]
and contributes its efforts.
The narrative you refer to in your [article] sounds interesting in that we do not have that particular
intelligence.
This is also important because currently Europe is accepting very few refugees. Illegal migration has been
an important issue and Turkey is effectively fighting against it. There may be attempts and cases where
Syrians may be trying to enter Europe, escaping the conflict in their country. Of course the most effective
way to put an end to all these problems would be immediate action by the international community to
solve the Syrian conflict through a genuine political transition process based on Geneva Communiqué.
As for illegal migration in the Eastern Mediterranean, below is how Turkey sees the situation and what
Turkey is doing to fight it.
·
We are concerned about the recent migrant smuggling incidents at the Mediterranean Sea. These
tragic incidents indicate that irregular migration route is shifting from the Aegean Sea towards the Eastern
Mediterranean.
·
We have been reported that the Italian Coast Guard and Frontex, in the framework of the joint
operation Triton, have intercepted two cargo ships, one Moldova flagged “Blue Sky M” and the other
Sierra-Leone flagged “Ezadeen” in the last week of December 2014 and the first week of January 2015
respectively, while saving around 1,400 migrants in distress.
·
Even though there are baseless claims that those two vessels have departed from Mersin port of
Turkey, according to the information received from the Turkish Coast Guard and Mersin Port Authority
those ships have never left or entered the Mersin port.
·
On the other hand, we have also been informed that the migrant smugglers are changing their
routes as well as the methods to get migrants into Europe. We know that the migrant smugglers have
started to use cargo ships as a new method of carrying migrants.
·
Some countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa are also becoming main departing
locations in migrant smuggling routes.
·
It has also been stated that migrants are paying up to $6,000 to get onboard and that the migrant
smugglers are utilizing social media to organize, while making a huge profit from this new method.
·
The Turkish Coast Guard prevented 16 migrant smuggling attempts and rescued 2,114 irregular
migrants in the Eastern Mediterranean between August 2014 and January 2015. In fact, the Turkish Coast
Guard has been exerting huge effort to prevent illegal migration.
·

The Turkish Coast guard is trying to fight effectively with the outflow migration.

·
However, one cannot intervene in those cargo vessels in international waters unless there is a
permission from the flag state of the cargo ship.

 ·
While fighting against illegal migration maritime commerce should not be hindered. Commercial
vessels are free to visit any port at the Mediterranean. Control of those ships requires joint responsibility
and action by all relevant parties on the basis of concrete proof or suspect of illegal activities.
·
We should keep in mind that the migrant smugglers might continue to use this new method and the
route unless coordinated efforts are exerted by all relevant parties. In fact, we have been informed by the
EU authorities that there are around 15 cargo vessels recently in Mediterranean with around 5,000 illegal
migrants.
·
[Turkey] will continue its fight against migrant smuggling by
o increasing the coast guard units in risky areas;
o monitoring more closely all commercial ships in the region with automatic identification system (AIS)
as well as by coast guard units;
o increasing controls of commercial ships while entering and leaving the ports
o intensifying fight against organized crime groups in order to identify those who are involved in migrant
smuggling.
·
We would like to reiterate that Turkey will continue its determined fight against migrant smuggling
and ready to cooperate with all relevant parties to this end. We also expect cooperation and coordination
with all parties against illegal migration.