Tripartite cooperation between Italy, Libya and Malta in the Central Mediterranean is working, with migrant arrivals being prevented and thousands of human lives being saved, Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni said.

Speaking in Venice, Sig Maroni said his country's agreement with Libya had substantially stopped migrant crossings, restored the tourism industry in Lampedusa and saved thousands of human lives which would have been lost during the crossings

The Italy-Libya agreement on control of migration was reached two years ago during talks between Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

As a result, Mr Maroni said, the Libyan authorities had raised their vigilance over attempted departures from the coast by migrants.

"Collaboration between Italy, Libya and Malta is at its best. The operations in the Mediterranean are working, preventing migrants' landings and saving thousands of lives," he said.

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