Ansamed

(ANSAmed) - VENICE, JULY 23 - ''The agreement with Libya has basically stopped the landings, turning Lampedusa into a tourist destination again'', said Italy's Interior minister Roberto Maroni from a meeting in Venice. The minister underlined that this way ''thousands of human lives have been saved''.

The agreement was signed by Premier Berlusconi two years ago and according to the minister is working well: ''The Libyan authorities are on guard; Italy, Libya and Malta are collaborating very well. The operations in the Mediterranean are working perfectly''. (ANSAmed).