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| Migrant Ship, Turned Away by Italy, Heads Toward France | Migrant Ship, Turned Away by Italy, Heads Toward France |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A charity-run rescue vessel carrying hundreds of migrants was heading to France on Wednesday after Italy declined to allow its passengers to disembark, prompting a claim of victory from the new right-wing, anti-migration government in Rome but sharp criticism from rights groups and from Paris. | A charity-run rescue vessel carrying hundreds of migrants was heading to France on Wednesday after Italy declined to allow its passengers to disembark, prompting a claim of victory from the new right-wing, anti-migration government in Rome but sharp criticism from rights groups and from Paris. |
| Italy had initially refused entry to passengers from four migrant ships, but the standoff appeared to be nearing an end after three of the vessels were allowed to dock and the fourth departed toward Corsica, although its ultimate fate remained unclear. | Italy had initially refused entry to passengers from four migrant ships, but the standoff appeared to be nearing an end after three of the vessels were allowed to dock and the fourth departed toward Corsica, although its ultimate fate remained unclear. |
| The hard line taken by the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who came to power last month, suggested a revival of the anti-immigrant strategy pursued by Italy in 2018, spearheaded by the far-right interior minister at the time, Matteo Salvini. | |
| Mr. Salvini was highly influential in setting migrant policy under the first term of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. He has a significant role in the current government, and has again sought ownership of the migrant issue, commenting profusely on the standoff. | Mr. Salvini was highly influential in setting migrant policy under the first term of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. He has a significant role in the current government, and has again sought ownership of the migrant issue, commenting profusely on the standoff. |
| Ms. Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister and leader of a far-right party that has surpassed Mr. Salvini’s, thanked the French authorities Tuesday night for their decision to “share the responsibility of the immigration emergency that until today was on the shoulders of Italy and a few other countries in the Mediterranean.” | Ms. Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister and leader of a far-right party that has surpassed Mr. Salvini’s, thanked the French authorities Tuesday night for their decision to “share the responsibility of the immigration emergency that until today was on the shoulders of Italy and a few other countries in the Mediterranean.” |
| The good feeling was not shared in France, where the government described Italy’s attitude as “unacceptable” and declined to confirm that a deal had been reached. | The good feeling was not shared in France, where the government described Italy’s attitude as “unacceptable” and declined to confirm that a deal had been reached. |
| “France is demanding, asking and expecting its neighbor and friend to respect its commitments,” Olivier Véran, a spokesman for the government, told the broadcaster Franceinfo. Italy, he said, had agreed to European rules, and accepted European funding, and was obliged to accept asylum seekers who arrived in its territorial waters. | “France is demanding, asking and expecting its neighbor and friend to respect its commitments,” Olivier Véran, a spokesman for the government, told the broadcaster Franceinfo. Italy, he said, had agreed to European rules, and accepted European funding, and was obliged to accept asylum seekers who arrived in its territorial waters. |
| Mr. Véran said that talks between France and Italy continued. He declined to say whether France would agree to let the ship berth, but added, “It is out of the question to leave these people at the slightest risk.” | Mr. Véran said that talks between France and Italy continued. He declined to say whether France would agree to let the ship berth, but added, “It is out of the question to leave these people at the slightest risk.” |
| “We are following the situation minute by minute, hour by hour,” Mr. Véran said. | “We are following the situation minute by minute, hour by hour,” Mr. Véran said. |
| Italy has long expressed frustration at having to accept people who arrive in the country after traversing the central Mediterranean, the world’s deadliest route for migrants, but rights groups have said that Italy’s concerns about migration are overstated. | Italy has long expressed frustration at having to accept people who arrive in the country after traversing the central Mediterranean, the world’s deadliest route for migrants, but rights groups have said that Italy’s concerns about migration are overstated. |
| “Less than 88,000 people have arrived in Italy via sea this year,” Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said. “This is not an emergency in terms of numbers, but a humanitarian emergency.” | “Less than 88,000 people have arrived in Italy via sea this year,” Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said. “This is not an emergency in terms of numbers, but a humanitarian emergency.” |
| The standoff involved four ships carrying migrants in distress, and the Italian authorities had declined to assign a port of safety, as required by international law. | The standoff involved four ships carrying migrants in distress, and the Italian authorities had declined to assign a port of safety, as required by international law. |
| Three of the ships — the Humanity I, carrying 179 migrants; the Geo Barents, with 572; and the Rise Above, with 89 — were eventually allowed to dock in Catania and Reggio Calabria, with their passengers permitted to disembark. | Three of the ships — the Humanity I, carrying 179 migrants; the Geo Barents, with 572; and the Rise Above, with 89 — were eventually allowed to dock in Catania and Reggio Calabria, with their passengers permitted to disembark. |
| “It was urgent to let them on the ground, and their conditions were critical,” Cristina Laura Cecchini, a lawyer for Humanity 1 who had initiated the migrants’ asylum requests in Italy, said. “The survivors come from Libya, have undergone torture and violence, and have been saved from distress at sea.” | “It was urgent to let them on the ground, and their conditions were critical,” Cristina Laura Cecchini, a lawyer for Humanity 1 who had initiated the migrants’ asylum requests in Italy, said. “The survivors come from Libya, have undergone torture and violence, and have been saved from distress at sea.” |
| But the Italian government stood firm on a fourth vessel, the Ocean Viking, operated by the French organization SOS Méditerranée, and the organization said on Wednesday that the ship was sailing in international waters, headed to Corsica, but had not been told what port would receive it. | But the Italian government stood firm on a fourth vessel, the Ocean Viking, operated by the French organization SOS Méditerranée, and the organization said on Wednesday that the ship was sailing in international waters, headed to Corsica, but had not been told what port would receive it. |
| The vessel is carrying 234 migrants, including 58 minors, from Libya, with many in need of medical assistance, the organization said, citing the deterioration of the physical and mental health of women, children and men on board after requests to dock in Malta, Italy, France, Spain and Greece were met by silence. | The vessel is carrying 234 migrants, including 58 minors, from Libya, with many in need of medical assistance, the organization said, citing the deterioration of the physical and mental health of women, children and men on board after requests to dock in Malta, Italy, France, Spain and Greece were met by silence. |
| “The situation is critical,” the organization’s head in France, Sophie Beau, told the broadcaster BFMTV on Wednesday. “It isn’t possible to wait any longer.” | “The situation is critical,” the organization’s head in France, Sophie Beau, told the broadcaster BFMTV on Wednesday. “It isn’t possible to wait any longer.” |
| The local authorities in Corsica have offered temporary shelter to the ship, but the central government in Paris has not given approval for that plan. | The local authorities in Corsica have offered temporary shelter to the ship, but the central government in Paris has not given approval for that plan. |
| Gilles Simeoni, the president of Corsica’s executive council, told BFMTV on Wednesday that while Italy and France “arm-wrestled” over the ship’s fate, the lives of hundreds of people were at stake. | Gilles Simeoni, the president of Corsica’s executive council, told BFMTV on Wednesday that while Italy and France “arm-wrestled” over the ship’s fate, the lives of hundreds of people were at stake. |
| “Even as people are suffering and are in absolute distress several dozen kilometers off the coast of Corsica, we can’t close our eyes and pretend that it doesn’t exist,” Mr. Simeoni said. “I don’t think the Mediterranean is destined to be a cemetery.” | “Even as people are suffering and are in absolute distress several dozen kilometers off the coast of Corsica, we can’t close our eyes and pretend that it doesn’t exist,” Mr. Simeoni said. “I don’t think the Mediterranean is destined to be a cemetery.” |
| Immigration remains a sensitive topic in France, where the right and the far right have used it to criticize President Emmanuel Macron. A discussion about the Ocean Viking caused uproar in the French Parliament this month after a far-right lawmaker was accused of making a racist comment. | Immigration remains a sensitive topic in France, where the right and the far right have used it to criticize President Emmanuel Macron. A discussion about the Ocean Viking caused uproar in the French Parliament this month after a far-right lawmaker was accused of making a racist comment. |
| Still, some local politicians in mainland France have urged the government to help the ship. Benoît Payan, the Socialist mayor of the Mediterranean port of Marseille, said on Wednesday that his city was ready if needed. | Still, some local politicians in mainland France have urged the government to help the ship. Benoît Payan, the Socialist mayor of the Mediterranean port of Marseille, said on Wednesday that his city was ready if needed. |
| “France must urgently open a port and take its responsibilities,” Mr. Payan wrote on Twitter. | “France must urgently open a port and take its responsibilities,” Mr. Payan wrote on Twitter. |
| Aurelien Breeden contributed reporting. | Aurelien Breeden contributed reporting. |