“This initiative, which immediately found my approval, can serve to create a communication project that has a common feeling within the Mediterranean basin. And in this context Sicily can be considered as a hub for solidarity, but also for tourism and energy issues. I believe that the dialogue between Euro-Mediterranean countries is essential and due to its geographical position, but also due to its over a thousand-year cultural history, our island can represent a reference for the entire area of North Africa”. This was said by the president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, as he opened the proceedings of the final day of the 32nd Assembly of Mediterranean news agencies organized by ANSA this morning at Palazzo d’Orleans, in the presence of representatives of around twenty countries. In his speech, Schifani also focused on the topic of immigration, with the continuous uncontrolled and uncontrollable landings.
“Finding a solution with bilateral politics”
“Our Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – he said – is working very well on the bilateral treaties with the countries from which immigrants leave without control. An approach that I fully agree with: if you don’t intervene in this way it’s difficult to find a stop to departures. Last year, the president of the EU Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen wanted to visit Lampedusa and realized the situation facing the island and the commitments and efforts put in place by the national and regional governments. We too have done our part in times of great emergency. In one night we found ourselves having to host 4,000 exiles who had landed with nothing: in 48 hours our activity made it possible to avoid collapse. Only with a bilateral policy with border countries can a solution be found.”
Utveggio Castle towards reopening
The President of the Region also wanted to underline that next spring one of the symbols of Palermo, the Utveggio Castle above Monte Pellegrino, will be reopened to the public and that “it will be intended to host large international meetings that look at the sub-Mediterranean area as moments of meeting , cultural, scientific and industrial training”.
