German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen urged today the expansion of the presence of NATO in the Aegean Sea, despite the decline in the number of refugees.
"We can not eliminate quickly traffickers, so that the latter will try as soon as possible to resume their trade in human beings," said the Minister during a visit to a German military ship near the Greek island of Chios. Currently, eight military ships of NATO from six member countries operate between the Turkish coast and the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios. They have reported about 100 boats with refugees during the past six weeks in these waters.Von der Leyen stressed that NATO should expand the operational area in Samos, Kos and Leros, as part of the plan to monitor the routes of human beings trafficking.