Ship captain awarded for rescuing migrants in distress
The captain and owner of Pinar E., the cargo ship at the centre of a diplomatic dispute between Malta and Italy earlier this year, will be given the Hope Refugee Award by the Turkish UN High Commission for Refugees.
The Commission's representative Michel Gaude said Captain Asik Tuygun and owner Baris Erdogdu would be given the award in recognition of the way they had saved more than 100 illegal immigrants who were about to drown at sea.
The standoff between the two neighbouring countries followed the Turkish cargo ship's rescue of 140 immigrants 40 miles off Lampedusa. Italy had argued that since the migrants were picked up in the search and rescue zone administered by Malta they should have been conveyed to the island. However, Malta insisted that, in terms of international law, they should have been taken to the nearest safe port, that is, Lampedusa. Italy eventually relented and accepted the migrants but the row continued for weeks until meetings between both sides and an assurance by the EU that it would help ease the situation.
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Galea. L
Jun 13th 2009, 09:05
Joe Portelli
The shame is on those who are sending them and not on us who are having to lump them because we have a spineless and incompetent Gonzi.
Charles Sammut
Jun 12th 2009, 21:41
It is Italian minister Maroni who should be given an award. Ever since he took a firm stand on the issue,not one illegal immigrant has drowned.
Joe Portelli
Jun 12th 2009, 18:16
This award is well deserved and its action should send a message of Shame to both Malta and in particular Italy, both countries ignoring the fact that these creatures are people. Turkey did well by recognising this act of human charity ! A similar story was when a Norwegian Captain rescued people and children in the pacific and the then Aussies behaved just like Maltese and Italians. What is happening to Civilisation in the so called 1st world? There seems to be more care from outside EU and also in most 3rd World countries - who's people seem to have a far better understanding of what it means to be Civilised. "Christains? Only in Name"