The Tripoli based Libyan Acting Minister of Interior, Imad Trabelsi, chaired yesterday an expanded meeting that included a number of ambassadors and chargés d’affaires of the embassies of the European Union and the African Union to Libya, as well as representatives of the European Union Mission, the International Organization for Migration, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The radical solution starts from securing the southern borders
Trabelsi stressed that Libya will not bear the burdens of illegal immigration alone, and will not be in any way a “settlement area”, and that Libyan sovereignty and the interest of national security are above any other considerations. He pointed out that the radical solution to migration starts from securing the southern borders, not only through coastal control as the European Union focuses on, stressing that Libya will not accept to be a protective shield for others without obtaining the necessary support.
Continued migrant flow will exacerbate regional security
Trabelsi explained that the crises that Libya is going through have further complicated this file, as it is estimated that there are more than 4 million migrants inside Libyan territory, which represents a very serious security and economic challenge. He warned that the continued flow of migrants without controls will exacerbate the security and social conditions, not only in Libya, but in the entire region.
EU must assume its responsibility
The minister called on the European Union countries and the countries affected by this phenomenon to assume their responsibilities and provide effective support to Libya. This includes strengthening the security of the southern borders by providing modern equipment and technologies to monitor illegal movements, accelerating the voluntary deportation of illegal migrants in coordination with international organizations, and combating smuggling and human trafficking networks.
