By TesfsNews,
FOREIGN Minister Osman Saleh is currently participating at the Ministerial Conference on the Khartoum Process (EU – Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative) in Rome.
The two day conference was launched on Friday under Italy’s EU Council Presidency and the partcipation of countries including the EU’s 28 Member States, Libya, Egypt Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tunisia.
The Rome conference was taking place based on the positive outcome of the AU Regional Conference on human trafficking and smuggling in the Horn of Africa that was held in Khartoum on 13-16 October 2014.
In the course of the event, Minister Osman held fruitful meetings with EU foreign relations chief Mogherini, Italy interior minister, deputy FM, and with UK and Norway officials.
The EU – Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative will highlight the importance of the regional dimension in tackling the challenges posed by the mixed migratory flows of irregular migrants, refugees and asylum seekers between countries of origin, transit and destination between Horn of Africa and Europe.
Acknowledging that trafficking in human beings constitutes a serious crime and a violation of the human rights of the victims, the Rome conference on Khartoum Process underscores the importance of prosecuting smugglers and traffickers and dismantling their criminal networks as they represent a serious threat also, in some cases, in terms of terrorism.
At AU Regional Conference on human trafficking and smuggling, Eritrea called for concerted action to prosecute human traffickers, including those who pose as human rights activists, as they have been found largly responsible for the migration and suffering of the Eritrean youth.
In a brief speech he delivered at the conference, Foreign Minister Osman mentioned that Eritrea’s economic transformation and human resources development programs will bring tangible outcomes on the lives and life styles of the citizenes in the coming 3-5 years.
The Ministerial Conference finally agreed to undertake concrete actions to prevent and tackle the challenges of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants between the Horn of Africa and Europe, in a spirit of partnership, shared responsibility and cooperation.
