France blocks train carrying migrants
English.news.cn 2011-04-19 10:42:53
BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhuanet) --
English.news.cn 2011-04-19 10:42:53
BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhuanet) --
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A train carrying Tunisian migrants from Italy has been halted at the French border in an escalation of the dispute over the fate of North African migrants fleeing political unrest.
While many European countries are supporting regime change in the Arab world, it seems the resulting migrants fleeing the North African turmoil are not welcome there.
France is preventing trains carrying migrants crossing into the country.
The Italian Interior Minister says France's stance is incomprehensible and unjustified.
Roberto Maroni, Italian Interior Minister, said, "We are in compliance with the European agreement on freedom of travel. We have given them travel documents and residence permits, all of which are recognized by the European Commission. Therefore freedom of travel is possible for all those who have a residence permit and want to go to France."
But France does not think so.
It says it will honor the permits only if the migrants prove they can financially support themselves.
Lydia Schenardi, Secretary of National Front, said, "We understand what Italy is doing. But Italy is providing European visas to get rid of the migrants in their own country. The migrants will come to France and other European countries. This is an uncontrolled increase in immigration, and what is more, they are unemployed workers."
It's a paradox.
These countries all back what they call the pro-democracy movements in the Arab world, to the extent of using military force to protect the lives of civilians.
But when people there flee the turmoil, they have nowhere to go.
France and Germany have agreed to set up joint patrols off the Tunisian coast to deter would-be migrants. Editor: Bi Mingxin (Source:cntv.cn)
A train carrying Tunisian migrants from Italy has been halted at the French border in an escalation of the dispute over the fate of North African migrants fleeing political unrest.
While many European countries are supporting regime change in the Arab world, it seems the resulting migrants fleeing the North African turmoil are not welcome there.
France is preventing trains carrying migrants crossing into the country.
The Italian Interior Minister says France's stance is incomprehensible and unjustified.
Roberto Maroni, Italian Interior Minister, said, "We are in compliance with the European agreement on freedom of travel. We have given them travel documents and residence permits, all of which are recognized by the European Commission. Therefore freedom of travel is possible for all those who have a residence permit and want to go to France."
But France does not think so.
It says it will honor the permits only if the migrants prove they can financially support themselves.
Lydia Schenardi, Secretary of National Front, said, "We understand what Italy is doing. But Italy is providing European visas to get rid of the migrants in their own country. The migrants will come to France and other European countries. This is an uncontrolled increase in immigration, and what is more, they are unemployed workers."
It's a paradox.
These countries all back what they call the pro-democracy movements in the Arab world, to the extent of using military force to protect the lives of civilians.
But when people there flee the turmoil, they have nowhere to go.
France and Germany have agreed to set up joint patrols off the Tunisian coast to deter would-be migrants. Editor: Bi Mingxin (Source:cntv.cn)
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