TUNIS, Dec 29 (NNN-TAP) – Tunisian President, Kais Saied and visiting Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, yesterday urged efforts to tackle the root causes of illegal immigration and combat human trafficking on both sides of the Mediterranean.
Saied stressed the importance of developing new common concepts, to encourage regular immigration through mechanisms that protect immigrants’ rights, while admitting that, conventional strategies for dealing with illegal immigration have proven their limits, according to a statement released by the Tunisian Presidency.
The Tunisian president also expressed willingness to strengthen friendly ties with Italy and expand promising opportunities for bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields, based on mutual respect and shared interests, said the statement.
“Italy recognises and supports the ambitious reform path established by the Tunisian president,” Di Maio was quoted as saying.
Italy has worked with its partners and the International Monetary Fund, to emphasise the need to assist Tunisia in overcoming the economic scenario it is experiencing, which has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Di Maio said.– NNN-TAP
