UNHCR spokesperson Laura Boldrini has said that the UNHCR was surprised at Foreign Minister Frattini’s claim that UNHCR was somehow involved in any new migration agreement between Italy and the Libyan National Transitional Council. According to TM News Boldrini said “there is no involvement of any kind relating to these operations and [UNHCR] reiterates its opposition to any action of expulsion at sea of migrants heading for the Italian coast.”
Click here (IT) for article.
[UPDATE: Click here and here for articles where Frattini clarifies he did not intend to suggest that UNHCR would be involved in the new agreement. The agreement in question is being referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Fight Against Illegal Immigration, Terrorism, Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking. (Un Memorandum d’ Intesa per la collaborazione nella lotta all’ immigrazione clandestina, al terrorismo, alla criminalità organizzata ed al traffico di stupefacenti.)
You may find the text of the repatriation agreement here (IT): http://download.repubblica.it/pdf/2011/migrazione.pdf
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