The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, welcomed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, to the Farnesina.
During their talks, which followed a telephone conversation on May 5, the dignitaries examined the issue of refugees in the Central Mediterranean and mulled collaboration prospects between Italy and the UNHCR.
In this regard, Minister Alfano reiterated Italy’s full support to the UNHCR Plan for Libya and confirmed the Italian Government’s intention to contribute with 10 million euros to the Fund for Africa.
“Italy supports the High Commissioner’s intention to increase its presence in Libya and expand its field of action,” said Minister Alfano. “It is necessary for the Libyan people to see that collaboration with institutions, including the ones in the UN family, brings immediate practical advantages,” added the Minister.
Moreover, Minister Alfano underlined that “Libya is the port of embarkation for 97 percent of migrants landing in Italy. Along with Tunisia and Niger, it is the priority country of the Fund for Africa, to which Italy has considerably contributed by granting 200 million euros in 2017 on actions aiming to counter migration.”
At the end of the talks, Minister Alfano renewed his invitation to the UNHCR to participate in the Ministerial Conference “A shared responsibility for a common goal: solidarity and security”, which is scheduled to take place at the Farnesina on July 6.
