Germany: Seehofer defends plan to receive 1 in 4 migrants rescued at sea

M/S German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer arriving at press conference, Berlin
C/U Media *CUTAWAY*
M/S Seehofer and officials at press conference
SOT, Horst Seehofer, German Interior Minister (German): "The voluntary admission [of refugees] rescued at sea makes up a very small percentage of migration to Germany. We can see the development of the process since July 2018, since last year. Since July 2018, Germany has agreed to admit a total of 565 people that were rescued at sea from Malta and Italy. 225 people of these 565 admitted by us have been brought to Germany so far. That makes 225 people in 15 months in total. 565 admissions from our side. A total of 2,199 people were rescued at sea in total in this time period."
W/S Press conference *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Horst Seehofer, German Interior Minister (German): "I sharply reject the criticism of this procedure [admitting refugees]. It is unbelievable that as an interior minister you have to justify rescuing people from drowning."
C/U Seehofer at press conference *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Horst Seehofer, German Interior Minister (German): "Whoever deals with this issue, should concern himself with the real challenge we are facing these days. It is the development of migration flows in the areas of Turkey, Greece and on the Balkan route. These are dimensions and challenges that are on an entirely different level."
C/U Sign reading (German): "Federal Ministry of the Interior, for building and homeland."
M/S Seehofer and officials at press conference
SCRIPT
The German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer defended his proposal to accept twenty five percent of migrants rescued at sea into the country, during a press conference in Berlin on Thursday.
"I sharply reject the criticism of this procedure [admitting refugees]. It is unbelievable that as an interior minister you have to justify rescuing people from drowning," Horst said.
The Interior Minister was responding to recent comments made by politicians, which heavily criticised his ministry’s proposal. Seehofer also emphasised that those migrants rescued at sea make up only a small percentage of total migration into Germany.
"Germany has agreed to admit a total of 565 people that were rescued at sea from Malta and Italy. 225 people of these 565 admitted by us have been brought to Germany so far. That makes 225 people in 15 months in total. 565 admissions from our side, a total of 2,199 people were rescued at sea in total in this time period," the Interior Minister said.
Talks between Malta, Germany, France and Italy are set to take place on September 23 in Valletta to reach an agreement on how to distribute migrants rescued during the Mediterranean crossing.