Nothing to apologise to AU for - Salvini

(ANSA) - Rome, September 19 - 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".