Francis Ford Coppola: US should 'cough up' for Europe's migrant crisis
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Version 0 of 1. The Oscar-winning director of The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola, has called for America and other nations to contribute financially towards Europe’s struggles in the face of waves of migration from war zones in Syria and elsewhere. Related: Matt Damon: the refugee crisis is a reason to release The Martian Speaking in Milan, where he had been invited to talk about his family history in Italy, Coppola, 76, said the crisis was a global problem that required an urgent, international resolution. “The solution to migration is stop everyone shooting everyone and having wars and destroying beautiful cities like Aleppo,” he said, in comments made public by the Hollywood Reporter. “The world – including the United States – has to cough up a lot of money and ask Greece and the Balkans to receive these people so that they can have a chance to take a breath. Coppola added: “It’s going to take a lot of money, but it is required. It’s a big economic problem and the world has to pay for it. This is an obscenity.” Coppola, whose grandparents were born in Italy, was asked if he would consider retiring in Europe if Republican hopeful Donald Trump, or a similar candidate, were to be elected president of the USA. “No, America is incredibly great, believe me,” he replied. Discussing his joint heritage, Coppola added: “My mother would always say to me, ‘Francis, you’re so lucky, because you’re American. And America is the greatest country in the world.’ And my father would say, ‘Yes, but Francis, you’re also Italian. And the Italians are the greatest people in the world, the most creative.’” |