Alistair Burt, Britain's minister for Middle East and North Africa, speaks during a press conference in Tripoli, Libya, on April 9, 2018. British Middle East minister on Monday held talks in the Libyan capital Tripoli with Libyan officials on illegal immigration and economic cooperation between the two countries. (Xinhua/Hamza Turkia)
TRIPOLI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- British Middle East minister on Monday held talks in the Libyan capital Tripoli with Libyan officials on illegal immigration and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Alistair Burt, Britain's minister for Middle East and North Africa, held meetings with the UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj, and the ministers of foreign affairs, justice and interior.
Burt told a joint press conference with the Libyan Foreign Minister, Mohammed Sayala, that his visit comes within the framework of supporting political and economic relations, as well as discussing solutions to illegal immigration.
"We recognize the importance and seriousness of illegal immigration. The recent meeting between the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union was keen to examine the problems of the flow of migrants from their countries to Libya, and to convince the migrants about the great risk of leaving their countries, and to return voluntarily to their countries of origin," Burt said.
He revealed that Britain has allocated 75 million British pounds (105.96 million U.S. dollars) to support anti-illegal immigration programs in Libya, as well as 170 million pounds spent more than two years until now on crisis management in Mediterranean countries.
"During our meetings with officials and civil society organizations, we have seen determination to save their country and improve the living conditions of citizens," Burt said, noting that Britain is willing to implement stability programs and contribute to a number of economic projects to support Libya's economy.
