Interior Minister Marco Minniti on
Monday agreed a projected memorandum of understanding to boost
cooperation between Italy and Libya against illegal immigration
and human trafficking, after talks in Tripoli with Premier
Fayez Mustafa Al Serraj, Foreign Minister M. Siyala and the
members of the presidential council, A. Maitig e A. Kajman.
Italy has long been seeking a deal to help stop the ceaseless
flow of migrants arriving in Italy from Libya.
Minniti's mission to Libya, the interior ministry said, was
the opportunity to start "a new phase of cooperation between the
two countries, especially in regard to the migratory sector, and
for the fight against criminal organisations that exploit
migrants".
"During the meeting, Italy's full support was reaffirmed for
the national unity government and Libya's role in fighting
terrorism both on a regional level and a national one, in
particular in the Mediterranean region.
Both sides stressed the progress made in the field of
bilateral cooperation on security and the will to go forward in
strengthening and deepening cooperation in this field was
reiterated.
The parties also voiced "a joint commitment towards fighting
against illegal immigration and human trafficking on which a
projected memorandum of understanding was agreed for joint
examination in preparation for its approval
"This memorandum," it was stressed, "represents a national
project in the security sector to boost cooperation between the
two countries in the field of mutual security, fighting
terrorism and combating human trafficking".
Further, Minniti and Al Serraj confirmed a commitment to
tackling together both countries' problems such as smuggling in
all its forms and the protection of borders with particular
reference to Libya's southern borders".
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