Tunisian President Kais Saied (1st L) meets with Italian Minister of Interior Luciana Lamorgese (3rd L, Front) and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio (2nd L, Front) in Tunis, Tunisia, on Aug. 17, 2020. Tunisian President Kais Saied met on Monday with visiting Italian Minister of Interior Luciana Lamorgese and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio to discuss the illegal immigration issue. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)
TUNIS, Aug. 17 -- Tunisian President Kais Saied met on Monday with visiting Italian Minister of Interior Luciana Lamorgese and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio to discuss the illegal immigration issue.
According to a statement released by the presidency, the two Italian ministers were accompanied by the European Commissioner for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.
"The two sides expressed a common desire to strengthen partnership in various fields, especially in the economic and social fields, in a way that would help reduce the phenomenon of illegal immigration and address its deep causes," said the presidency.
Saied underlined the need to adopt "a global and consensual approach in the field of immigration which is based mainly on the fight against poverty and unemployment by supporting development efforts in the countries of origin and encouraging regular immigration."
He reiterated that "security solutions alone are not enough to eliminate illegal immigration."
For their part, Italian and European officials renewed their political and economic support for Tunisia and their determination to support national efforts for development by encouraging investment and creating jobs, especially in the interior regions.
In a statement to the media, the Italian foreign minister expressed Italy's readiness to provide all necessary assistance to Tunisia such as programs for youths and other means of support.
Immigrants arriving in Italy illegally "will be repatriated, "warned Di Maio.
He referred to the continuation of negotiations between the Tunisian and Italian sides to find formulas for bilateral cooperation.
According to official figures released on Aug. 10 by the Tunisian Forum of Economic and Social Rights, 5,655 Tunisian illegal immigrants have arrived at the Italian coast between Jan. 1 and July 31.
Thousands of illegal immigrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean every year as Tunisia is one of the main points of access to Europe through irregular channels.
