The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians abroad, Nabil Ammar, received on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at the Ministry’s headquarters, the Austrian Minister of Interior, Gerhard Karner,  and the Danish Minister of Integration and Migration, and Kaare Dybvad Bek, who are on a visit to Tunisia to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Joint Training Center for Border Management in Tozeur, that their governments contributed to its financing within the framework of the third Phase of the Support Programme for Tunisia in the field of Integrated Border Management, stated the Tunisian Foreign Ministry.

During this meeting, the Tunisian Minister highlighted the challenges facing Tunisia in the context of dealing with the phenomenon of illegal migration. In this regard, he stressed the necessity of adopting a comprehensive approach and establishing effective and real partnerships to confront this phenomenon, based on addressing its causes rather than its consequences, as well as, the need for all parties to take their responsibilities including the countries of origin, transit, destination and the specialized international organizations.

In the same context, the Minister underlined that Tunisia is doing its utmost efforts to address the phenomenon of illegal migration within the limits of its capabilities and within the framework of respect for its national laws and relevant international treaties. He stressed Tunisia’s categorical refusal to play the role of policeman in the Mediterranean and renewed his call to European countries to review their approach in tackling this phenomenon, by promoting the spirit of fruitful and equal partnership to address the relevant multidimensional challenges and improving living conditions in countries of origin by supporting investment, particularly since the low levels of development in many countries of the African continent and the effects of climate change have exacerbated this phenomenon, added the Tunisian Foreign Ministry.

The meeting also represented an opportunity for the Tunisian Minister to further sensitize the European partners to the serious situation in Gaza. He stressed the need to unify efforts and better coordinate positions in order to immediately stop the armed aggression against occupied Palestine and its armless civilians in violation of all international conventions and human rights principles.

The Minister Ammar stressed the need to open all channels in order to deliver to the Palestinians urgent humanitarian aid, as well as to accelerate consultations and action to end the last strongholds of colonialism in the world by restoring Palestinian rights without delay.