Macron speaks with Italian PM to defuse migrant boat row

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Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte about the situation with the Aquarius migrant boat that has raised tension between two of Europe's main powers, his office said on Thursday.

"The French president emphasized that he never said anything meant to offend Italy and the Italian people," the Elysee said.

The conversation came after Macron accused the Italian government of "cynicism" and "irresponsibility" after it refused to take in hundreds of migrants, most of them sub-Saharan Africans who were picked up off the Libyan coast over the weekend.

Spain offers to take in a ship stranded in the Mediterranean with 629 migrants aboard after Italy and Malta refused to let the vessel dock in their ports. /VCG Photo

"Italy and France need to deepen their bilateral and European cooperation to conduct effective migration policy with countries of origin and transit, through better common European border management and via a European solidarity mechanism to take in refugees," the Elysee added after the two leaders spoke by phone on Wednesday evening.

Macron and Conte also vowed to respect international maritime laws related to humanitarian aid of stranded migrants.

During the phone call, they also confirmed they would meet in Paris for a working lunch on Friday to discuss new initiatives to handle migration crisis.

Last Sunday, Italy and Malta refused to let the rescue ship Aquarius reach their ports, stranding hundreds of migrants in the central Mediterranean for days.

Earlier this week, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe expressed France's readiness to help Spain which accepted to receive the stranded migrants following Italy and Malta position.

(Cover photo, June 9, 2018: French president Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands at a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the G7 summit in Charlevoix, Canada.)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency