Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani on Monday called for international financial
assistance for Tunisia in order to stem the growing number of
migrant departures to Italy.
"It's a case of a dog chasing its tail, the financial emergency
is fuelling the migrant emergency," Tajani said in an interview
to Corriere della Sera, calling for World Bank and IMF funding
for the north African country.
"Everyone is moving, let's not make the mistake of leaving
Tunisia to the Muslim Brotherhood," he added. .
Tajani also commented on the case of the humanitarian rescue
ship Louise Michel detained in Lampedusa since Saturday for
allegedly breaching rules banning multiple rescues and
"complicating" the coordination of rescue operations underway in
the area.
"If there are rules they must be respected," said Tajani
referring to a recent package of measures introduced by the
government to regulate the activities of NGOs conducting search
and rescue operations in the central Mediterranean.
The law requires NGO ships to request a place of safety after
the first rescue and head directly to the assigned port.
"The state is doing everything in its power, there are no
preconceptions against NGOs," continued the deputy prime
minister.
"There are laws, and there is relentless work by everyone, by
our Coast Guard and by our Navy," he said.
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