Al Serraj Attends Along With Italian Premier Euro-North African Contact Group on Migration From Libya.
Pulbished on:
Rome, 21 March 2017(Lana) The President of the Presidency Council
of the Government of National Accord Fayez Al Serraj on Monday
attended in the Italian capital, along with the Italian Prime
Minister Paolo Gentelone the conference of Euro-North Africa Contact
Group on Migration From Libya.
The GNA Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala, and the foreign Ministers
of France, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Algeria, Tunisia and
representatives of Switzerland and the European Commission also
attended the conference.
In a speech to the conference Al Serraj said the problem of
migration was as much a source of concern to Libya as to Europe. He
reminded the gathering that Libya is a transit rather than a source
country for migrants, calling for a drastic solution that tackles the
main source of migration, by extending support for the source
countries so they can overcome their economic problems and provide a
decent livelihood for their citizens.
'We look forward to real partnership with the European Union and
the neighboring countries, Al Serraj said.
He stressed that political stability and security are crucial for
confronting illegal migration problem, spread of weapons and the
criminal gangs responsible for trafficking.
The Presidency Council, he said, should be made to feel the
positive consequence of partnership with the European Union, and that
the issue of illegal migration should not be the only source of
concern to our European friends. They should not overlook the
suffering of the Libyan citizens, Al Serraj stressed, calling on EU
countries to do more to encourage a peaceful solution to the Libyan
political and security crises.
The GNA President made several demands in his speech including
putting in place various programs to tackle the security vacuum in
the territorial waters, such as promoting fishing, investments in
coastal economic and touristic projects which could curb trafficking,
as well as establishing electronic network along Libya's southern
border and training coastal and border guards.
In this context Libya has placed specific demands to be supplied
with equipment and facilities worth 800 million Euros, in order to be
able to curb the influx of migrants crossing its territories on their
way to Europe.
The demands included search and rescue speedboats, helicopters,
ambulances and other vehicles, as well as communications equipment
for use in border surveillance.
Al Serraj met on the margin of the conference with several heads
of delegations before he returned to Tripoli.
=Lana=