(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 22 SET - "This is the seventh trilateral meeting since Italy decided three years ago to suspend the Schengen agreement at the Slovenian border; these meetings serve to strengthen the friendship between our three countries and confirm the wisdom of the decision we made," said Luca Ciriani, Minister for Relations with Parliament. It was a "right, timely, and successful choice—as evidenced by the figures the Interior Ministry allows us to release today: 1.6 million people checked, 750,000 vehicles inspected, 12,000 irregular migrants stopped, and up to 711 arrests." "Just consider," Ciriani stated, "what might have happened if all of these individuals had not been brought to justice in Italy or were still free—with all of the attendant consequences regarding social marginalisation, violence, and the rise in both perceived and actual insecurity among citizens." "As Ministers Tajani and Piantedosi have also stated," he concluded, "the goal for the future is obviously to return to the previous state of normalcy; however, the measure has worked so far, so it is appropriate to continue on this path. Even before taking office, the majority parties and the government issued a strong political demand to suspend Schengen. It was a successful decision, and we believe it is appropriate to continue until conditions change: citizen safety comes first." (ANSA).