Austrian official calls for asylum centers in northern Africa

Austrian Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil on Tuesday called for the establishment of asylum and migration centers in the north of Africa, according to a Krone newspaper report.

"We must put an end to the deaths in the Mediterranean," he said.

The concept for such centers had already been suggested by former minister of the Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner in 2015.

Doskozil said asylum applications should only be able to be made at these centers, that should be run by both, the European Union and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.

For all those who are deemed to be in need of protection, the EU should provide a safe crossing into Europe, he said.

"Those who have no right to asylum must be returned to countries of origin," he said.

The minister argued that such a measure would disrupt the operations of people smugglers, given that asylum applications will only be accepted at the proposed centers.

His comments come just days after Minister for Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz stirred up controversy both domestically and abroad by suggesting Austria adopt a similar asylum policy to that of Australia -- by intercepting migrant boats and either sending them back, or interning the migrants in offshore camps until their asylum claims have been processed. Endit