Italy "has long been committed" to resolving the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and to fighting human trafficking, foreign minister Angelino Alfano told his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday.
“Minister Le Drian contacted me to outline a common effort we are planning at the UN on the theme of migrants and combating human trafficking in Libya,” said Alfano upon arriving in Australia for a three-day visit.
“Italy has long been committed on this front and fully agrees with the importance of maintaining the attention of the international community high on this issue," Alfano said.
This is precisely why we have dedicated the qualifying meetings of our presidency of the United Nations Security Council to security in the Mediterranean, Libya – which I have wanted to chair personally – refugees and migrants and, only a few days ago, to human trafficking.”
Italy welcomed France's proposed briefing of the Security Council this next week on the situation of migrants in Libya, Alfano said.
"We are certain that France...will be able to give added value and make a constructive contribution to our action in the Security Council and we are ready to work together on joint projects.”
