Deputy Premier and Interior
Minister Matteo Salvini said Wednesday that he had no reason to
apologise to the African Union and denied having compared
migrants to slaves.
Earlier on Wednesday the African Union expressed dismay about
reported comments by Salvini last week and called on him to
retract them.
"There is nothing to apologise for," Salvini told a press
conference at the interior ministry.
"I deny (making) any equation between immigrants and slaves.
"On the contrary, my statements in Vienna were to defend
migrants, who some want to use as slaves.
"If some people want to think badly (that's up to them),
perhaps the was a mistake in the French translation".
Salvini had a verbal spat with Luxembourg Foreign Minister
Jean Asselborn last week after reportedly saying Europe does not
need new slaves to make up for low birth rates.
"The African Union Commission expresses dismay at the
comments made by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo
Salvini, at a recent conference in Vienna at which he likened
African immigrants to slaves," the AU said in a statement.
"It is the view of the African Union that name-calling will
not resolve the migration challenges facing Africa and Europe...
"In the interests of constructive engagement on the migration
debate between the two continents, the African Union requests
the Italian Deputy Prime Minister to retract his derogatory
statement about African migrants and further urge Italy to
emulate and support other European Union member states, like
Spain, which have extended support and protection to migrants in
distress, irrespective of their origin and legal status, before
their admission status is determined".
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