The British minister of state for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, met Monday with the Libyan Presidential Council’s Head Fayez Al-Sirraj, interior minister and foreign minister of the Tripoli government, and discussed joint cooperation and expertise provision to Libya in limiting the flow of illegal immigrants and the UK’s assistance in line with the European Union and African Union’s help.
Burt said that the UK efforts would include giving information to those who seek to travel on the route to tell them that there might be at risk of exploitation and to intercept them on the route to persuade them to go back so they receive repatriation packages.
“What must be stopped is the trafficking and the migration of people that is exploited and provides the opportunity of significant amounts of money for criminal gangs.” He explained.
Burt renewed also his country’s efforts for national reconciliation in Libya so the suffering of the people can be alleviated, pointing out that the UK believes Libyans can hold the constitutional referendum and elections with a great degree of transparency.
He also added in a joint presser with the foreign minister Mohammed Sayala that the UK will provide Libya with 5 million pounds as part of its commitment to combat illegal immigration, saying his country is ready to have join economic projects with Libya to boost its economy.
