Berlyskoni discusses in Libya fighting illegal migration

The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlyskoni held yesterday talks with the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi concentrating on fighting illegal immigration and means of halting the flow of the waves of emigrants who arrive daily on the Italian coasts via Libya.

The Italian prime minister is accompanied in his visit to Libya by his Minister of the Interior who held a meeting with Qathafi on Tuesday evening over the Italian- Libyan summit which is the 6th during a 6 months period.

In a statement, the Italian minister of the Interior said that "the waves of continued immigrations keep the Arab Maghreb proceeding its way towards Italy and Europe. A matter which provokes complicated and dramatic problems to the countries of origin, the crossing countries and the final destination." Worthy mentioning that most emigrants and refugees who arrive almost on daily bases to Italy pass through Libya and they sail in difficult conditions piled up on rubber boats or ailing fishing ships.

On Tuesday, the Italian authorities announced the arrival of 275 illegal immigrants including 89 teenagers to Limbidoza island to the south of Italy to constitute the largest group of illegal emigrants which arrived this summer to this area.

Recently, the Libyan and Italian authorities signed an agreement aiming at ending illegal migration by running land, naval and air patrols and through a contract for training the Libyan police by Italians to go after the groups involved in smuggling people.

To this effect, Italy demanded the European Union to alleviate the trade embargo imposed on Libya and permit buying necessary military equipments to fight human smugglers.