MARONI TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION WITH LIBYANS

MARONI TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION WITH LIBYANS

(ANSA) - Rome, November 6 - Illegal immigrants trying to reach Italy pay an average of 2,000 dollars to human traffickers who ferry them across the Mediterranean, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said on Friday.

"Of the many sorts of organised crime, including arms and drug trafficking, human trafficking is one of the most profitable. On average, an illegal immigrant pays 2,000 dollars to reach Italy from Africa," Maroni told the Foreign Press Association in Rome.

Maroni said he would visit Libya on Monday and Tuesday to review a joint 'push-back' policy to prevent illegal immigration on Italian shores which has resulted in a 90% drop in arrivals since it was launched in May.

"There's been a excellent relationship of cooperation with the Libyan government which is doing a great job in fighting illegal immigration and, consequently, the mafia," said Maroni.

Thanks to the agreement with Libya, only 1,900 illegal immigrants reached Italy from May to October 31, compared to 19,000 in the same period last year, he added.

Under the controversial initiative, migrants are rescued in international waters and taken back to Libya where humanitarian organisations can vet their asylum claims.

Libya is the main stepping-off point on the North African coast for migrants seeking to reach southern Italy.

The 'push-back' policy has been heavily criticised by the centre-left opposition in Italy, the Catholic Church, humanitarian organisations and the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, who say Libya does not have a system in place to deal with asylum claims.

Maroni rebuffed criticism, saying that Italy tops other countries in aiding migrants stranded at sea, adding "nothing can be said against us on that score".

On November 23 and 24, Italy will host a meeting of the ten Mediterranean countries with illegal immigration topping the agenda.