Libyan commission concerned over Italian proposals on migrant camps in Libya

The National Commission for Human Rights expressed deep concern over statements by the Italian interior minister on the sidelines of the European-North African migration summit, held in Rome.

Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti told reporters that one of the ideas would be to set up refugee camps of Libyan soil which would be managed by Tripoli but supported by the EU and the UN, in "full respect of people's rights." According to the minister, the migrants would be able to seek asylum in Europe from the camps.

The commission said in a statement, a copy of which has been obtained by MENA, that it rejects such statements and any attempt that aims at settling immigrants and refugees in Libya to export the crisis to Libya and solve the problem on the account of Libya's national interest.

The commission reiterated rejection of establishing such camps or shelters on Libyan soil, asserting that European policies contradict humanitarian values and the international law, the statement read.

The commission called on all the Libyan political parties to reject such statements, policies and proposals by the Europeans, according to the statement.

Italy is hosting a European-North African migration summit aimed at helping implement a new accord with Libya to better patrol its coasts and stop smugglers from setting off with their human cargo.

Minniti invited counterparts from several European countries that border Italy - France, Slovenia, Switzerland and Austria - as well as Germany and Malta. Those countries have a stake in the accord since many migrants who arrive in Italy pass through its northern borders for destinations further north.

Also attending were representatives of Tunisia and Algeria, as well as the internationally recognized Libyan leader, Premier Fayez Serraj.

Source: MENA