NSG Ministry of Labour statement on illegal immigration.

Tripoli, 03.09.2015(Lana) NSG Ministry of Justice announced Libya's resolve to confront human trafficking gangs whatever their positions are and wherever they may be. The ministry in a statement read out by Minister of Justice Mustafa Al-Qaulaeeb said that Libyans are disheartened as they see victims ( illegal immigrants) washed shore by Mediterranean waves. It said the victims sailed to reach the other side of the Mediterranean coast hoping to improve their livelihoods as they fled tragic situation in the countries of origin. The statement blamed the neighbouring countries which did not control their borders and did not honour their commitments to stop the waves of illegal immigrants, in fact they pushed them into Libya which is witnessing unstable situation. The statement also blamed Mediterranean countries which did not honour their commitments to help Libya prevent human trafficking and smuggling of those victims and prevent illegal immigrants from meeting their fates drowning in the Mediterranean because of greed of rogue gangs living on the lives of other humans. The statement rejected directing the blame solely on Libya at the time it is experiencing a difficult security situation. It said based on Rabat Conference recommendations on 14.11.2013 which made the responsibility collectively among all countries concerned to look into this issue from purely humanitarian aspect away from political polarization ongoing in Libya. The statement stressed that collaboration should be on all technical and military fields according to commitments made by these countries and governments. The statement appealed to all parties concerned especially the EU countries and the UN to show their actual readiness by activating all concluding agreements and MoUs councluded with the Libyan state. Al-Qaulaeeb said Libya being a transit country cannot shoulder responsibility alone because Libya in itself a victim like other countries as most of illegal immigration waves stay in Libya and may not depart and shoulders all responsibility toward those immigrants. The statement also called for a regional conference at end of September to address the phenomena and put an end to the tragedy by the participation of the illegal immigrants destination countries (EU), source countries of illegal immigrants (African countries) besides neighbouring countries. =Lana=