Welcoming refugees is a
Constitutional principle, President Sergio Mattarella said
Thursday.
"Italy, in the front line in fulfilling with constancy and
determination its duties of solidarity, assistance and welcome,
sees the high moral and juridical commitment of protection
towards those fleeing persecution, sanctioned by the 1951 Geneva
Convention, and among the founding principles of our
Constitution," he said on world refugee day.
"No country is able on its own to respond" to the refugee
emergency," he went on.
For this reason, Mattarella said, "the overcoming of the
emergency logic and the definition of far-sighted and
sustainable responses founded on the principles of
responsibility and solidarity must be framed and agreed by the
international community and, above all, at a European level, as
sanctioned by the treaties".
He said the European Union "must be a protagonist in
developing a common policy".
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has led a crackdown on
migrants and closed Italy's ports to NGO-run migrant rescue
ships.
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