Italy does not want to become 'multi-ethnic' says Silvio Berlusconi

[Turborama]

Source: The Telegraph

Italy does not want to become a "multi-ethnic" country and will continue its newly adopted policy of sending boatloads of immigrants and asylum seekers back to North Africa, the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, said.

By Nick Squires in Rome
Last Updated: 9:14AM BST 11 May 2009

Previous Left-wing governments had "opened the doors to clandestine migrants coming from other countries, with an idea of a multi-ethnic Italy," Mr Berlusconi said. But that kind of society was "not our idea", he added, as he sought to reassure Italians who were alarmed at the number of immigrants pouring into the country, particularly from eastern Europe and Africa.

The prime minister's vision of Italy was condemned by the centre-Left opposition. "Yes, Mr Premier, we have a different idea of Italy: multi-ethnic, pluralistic, free," said Giovanna Melandri, of the Democratic Party. "A country in which the colour of your skin, or race or religion doesn't matter, but, rather, honesty and sincerity of heart do."

Since launching a tough new policy on boat people last week, Italy has turned back six boats carrying a total of 1,500 immigrants and asylum seekers which were trying to reach the country's southernmost outpost, the island of Lampedusa. The vessels were escorted back to Libya, the most popular jumping off point for clandestine immigrants, by the Italian coast guard and navy.

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In the past, Italy would accept the immigrants and take them to the mainland for processing and identification before deciding whether to grant them asylum or some other form of protection. The new approach was condemned by the UN's refugee agency, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the Vatican and Italian opposition MPs, who called it "a disgrace".

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5305030/Italy-does-not-want-to-become-multi-ethnic-says-Silvio-Berlusconi.html