Refugees enrich countries with
aging populations such as Italy, President Sergio Mattarella
said Monday while marking World Refugee Day.
"Refugees enrich our country," he said. "Italy suffers from
a low birth rate and the arrival of talented and capable young
people will enrich it if managed correctly".
"Europe stands for respect for human rights, but this
principle can't be on again, off again - it can't be applied
only to those living in Europe".
Refugee arrivals "can only be managed by intelligent
reception, one that will guarantee peace and order," said the
head of State.
"Sometimes there are reactions driven by fear,
disorientation, attempts at closure (or) worse still,
indifference," Mattarella went on.
Those fleeing to Europe do so because this is "the
continent of freedom, democracy and wellbeing," the president
said.
"We can't make it uglier in order to make it less
attractive".
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