Rebel attacks: Government solidarity with Malian people

The Maltese Government has expressed its solidarity with the Malian Government and people following the aggression of radical rebels and terrorist groups in the north of country.

The attacks threaten to destabilise not only the country but the entire region, making it even more crucial that democratic governance and the rule of law are re-established without delay, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

“The door for negotiations remains open but only for groups that recognise Mali’s territorial integrity and distance themselves from violence and terrorist activities,” the ministry added.

Malta reiterated its commitment to the decisions and declarations adopted by the UN Security Council, especially resolutions that addressed requests by the Malian Government and the African Union.

The Government paid tribute to the French-led international mobilisation, which went to Mali’s aid.

“Malta remains of the view that efforts must be made by the EU, ECOWAS, UN and the African Union to favour a normalisation of the political system through a roadmap towards elections – a process which has to have Malian ownership,” the ministry said.

On Wednesday, Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU Marlene Bonnici attended an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council to discuss recent events in Mali.

The extraordinary meeting was convened earlier this week by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton after rebel forces moved towards Bamako, the Malian capital.