Those who say migrant flows can
be stopped are "selling smoke", Premier Paolo Gentiloni said
Friday.
Speaking to youth missionary organisation SERMIG in Turin, he
said "to be safer and more secure, it's no use putting up walls,
but you have to find a new form of reception".
He said "those who want to sell the possibility, over the
coming weeks (of election campaign), of eliminating migrant
flows, are selling smoke, those who sow obsessions sow hatred."
Gentiloni said "the issue is how to manage flows, because our
country will need these people".
The rightwing populist League is among the parties who have
vowed, in their electoral campaign for the March 4 general
election, to halt illegal immigration into Italy.
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) has also
stressed Italy's need to regain control of its borders.
Migrant crossing from Africa dropped by over a third last
year thanks to a deal with Libya.
In other remarks to the young missionaries, the premier also
said "the best part of the country is that which helps other
people".
He added that "we must manage transformation" of the
workplace "or else we will lose jobs".
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