On Friday, 5 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, had a telephone conversation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, to take stock of the situation in Libya and of the UNHCR Plan for the Country.
After receiving an update on the UNHCR’s action and future commitments in Libya, Minister Alfano reaffirmed to UN High Commissioner Grandi that “Italy strongly supports the UNHCR’s intention to increase its presence and initiatives in Libya,” and announced the Italian Government’s willingness to finance the item on the Plan relative to the activities aimed at improving humanitarian assistance in Libya with a total of approximately 10 million euros.
Minister Alfano declared that “The UNHCR is a strategic partner for Italian Cooperation.” He went on: “We trust that we will confirm our comprehensive financial commitment of at least 20 million euros within the framework of the ‘Club of Donors’ also in 2017. Our support to the international organisations designated to better manage the migration phenomenon in Libya indeed aims to assure, through their action, respect for the human rights of migrants and refugees.”
Mr Alfano welcomed the opportunity to renew to the High Commissioner the invitation to participate in the Ministerial Meeting “A shared responsibility for a common goal: solidarity and security”, scheduled at the Farnesina for next 6 July.
