The minister communicated with his Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi via a rather unconventional medium on Saturday - namely, an impassioned Facebook post.
The captain of the Sea-Watch rescue ship, Carola Rackete, has been arrested by the Italian authorities for letting 40 migrants step onto Italian soil in Lampedusa.
The Luxembourgish minister could not leave the issue without commenting and issued a public plea for Rackete’s release, highlighting that ‘saving lives is a duty and should never be considered a crime’.
Asselborn began his plea by citing his friendship with Moavero Milanesi, with which he justified his unconventional means of contacting his Italian counterpart. Asselborn called for Rackete to be released, reminding readers that ‘not saving lives is a crime’. He ended his message by stressing Luxembourg’s solidarity with Italy in terms of rehoming migrants arriving in Mediterranean countries throughout Europe.
The minister hopes he will get through to his Italian colleague in this way.
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