Italy does not want to become 'multi-ethnic' says Silvio Berlusconi

Telegraph ^ | May 11, 2009 | Nick Squires

[Iron Munro]

Italy does not want to become a "multi-ethnic" country and will continue its newly adopted policy of sending boatloads of immigrants and asylum seekers back to North Africa, the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, said.

Previous Left-wing governments had "opened the doors to clandestine migrants coming from other countries, with an idea of a multi-ethnic Italy," Mr Berlusconi said.

But that kind of society was "not our idea", he added, as he sought to reassure Italians who were alarmed at the number of immigrants pouring into the country, particularly from eastern Europe and Africa.

The prime minister's vision of Italy was condemned by the centre-Left opposition. "Yes, Mr Premier, we have a different idea of Italy: multi-ethnic, pluralistic, free," said Giovanna Melandri, of the Democratic Party.

"A country in which the colour of your skin, or race or religion doesn't matter, but, rather, honesty and sincerity of heart do." Since launching a tough new policy on boat people last week, Italy has turned back six boats carrying a total of 1,500 immigrants and asylum seekers which were trying to reach the country's southernmost outpost, the island of Lampedusa.

[dfwgator]

This is why the countries of Central Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, etc.) are in much better shape than their western counterparts.

The one good thing about being behind the Iron Curtain was that they were spared the waves of immigrants that inundated the rest of Europe. I think one of the reasons the liberals target Poland so much, is solely because they are actually almost entirely *gasp* Polish. Can’t have that now, can we?

[savagesusie]

Yes, all the nations who have forced this illogical glorification of evil, dysfunctional cultures (and lifestyles) into the classroom are committing suicide.

[knighthawk]

“honesty and sincerity of heart do”

Hahahha, this makes me laugh. There are almost no honest asylum-seekers. Most are criminals or leechers. Some even shave off their fingerprints these days. I have heard of Dutch officials who in over a year didn’t meet any asylumseeker during an interview who didn’t lie.