Malta disappointed over disagreement on migrant camp plan

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo yesterday expressed his disappointment that no agreement on the setting up of holding centres for illegal immigrants in North Africa had been reached at a meeting of home affairs ministers from the European G5 countries on Monday.

It was important, Dr Frendo said, that Malta and other frontier states found the support of other EU states on the issue of illegal immigration. This should not just be a problem of frontier states. It was a problem of the whole region. Immediate solutions required solidarity from all countries in the region, both in the EU and North Africa.

Malta, he said, would be waiting to see what would happen in the European Council, which would group all 25 EU countries.

The plan, proposed by Italy and Germany was opposed by France and Spain.

Dr Frendo discussed Malta's relations with Libya and replied to various questions during a meeting of the parliamentary European and Foreign Affairs Committee.

He said he had fully participated in the meetings of the EU's General Affairs Council and agreed with its decisions to embark upon a policy of engagement with Libya while lifting all sanctions against that country. That included the lifting of an arms embargo. This would affect Malta directly as one of Libya's problems was that of policing its coast for reasons of illegal immigration.

Malta had offered technical assistance for Libya to combat illegal immigration. Illegal immigration was a serious concern in Libya too, with the country having up to two million illegal immigrants from African countries.

Malta, he said, had explained that it could not accommodate all the illegal immigrants who arrived here and was repatriating them, as far as it could, while adhering to international obligations.

Touching on other aspects of Malta-Libya relations, Dr Frendo said the two countries were showing determination to solve the problem of delays in the issue of travel visas. The issue was far from solved but both sides were giving it the utmost importance.

He said Malta had done its best to make the introduction of visas as smooth as possible and a consulate had been set up for the purpose in Libya.

More than 6,000 visas had been issued by Malta, a substantial number of which were multiple entry three-month visas.

Unfortunately, Maltese going to Libya were still finding difficulties to obtain a visa. The new Libyan charge d'affaires was making an effort to facilitate the situation but a lot of work still had to be done.

A long-term solution had to be found for businessmen to travel to both countries without difficulty. Dr Frendo said that during his recent meeting with the Libyan Prime Minister, he presented him with a detailed proposal on how the situation could be improved while remaining within the legal obligations of both countries. This was currently being considered by Libyan authorities.

Replying to questions by members of the committee, Dr Frendo said that other new EU member states were facing similar problems but his objective was that the Maltese should be in a somewhat better position.

Replying to a question on whether Libya's relations with Malta had lost their privileged status now that Libya had warmed relations with other European countries, Dr Frendo replied that it was natural for Libya to also seek strong relations with other countries. But the memory of the long standing friendship between the two countries remained and Malta was still seen as a special friend to Libya.

This was what Malta should build upon. Malta could not compete on the same parameters of large countries but it should find its own methods of remaining relevant in Libya.

Libya realised that Malta in the EU was a friendly voice which understood Libyan reality. The time had come for dialogue with Libya to become more constructive and committed.

Dr Frendo said that another conclusion of the General Affairs Council was for the EU to work towards reaching a fisheries agreement with Libya. Libya was also interested in reaching such an agreement and it was beneficial that a Maltese, Joe Borg, was the EU commissioner on the matter.

Such an agreement could possibly give Maltese fishermen the opportunity to fish in Libyan waters, which were well known for their abundance of fish.

This was an issue he intended to discuss with the Libyan government in the coming months.

The General Affairs Council, Dr Frendo said, had also expressed solidarity with the children infected with the HIV virus following an incident in a Benghazi hospital.

Malta offered the assistance of medical experts as a sign of solidarity with Libya.

The council also made a clear expression of its wish for Libya to completely integrate itself in the Barcelona process.

Malta would respect any decision by Libya as to whether or not to participate in this process. An internal debate on the issue was taking place in Libya.

MEP Simon Busuttil, who was present for yesterday's committee meeting, reported that the first meeting of an EP delegation with ambassadors of Maghreb states was held recently.

Especially notable was the intervention of the Libyan ambassador during which he said Libya expected Malta's support in the EU.

Committee chairman Jason Azzopardi said that the European and Foreign Affairs committee would be visiting Libya for the first time on November 19 and 20.

He said he would be addressing the Basic Peoples' Congress. A draft agenda for the meeting included illegal immigration, bilateral relations, Libya's participation in international fora and investment in Malta and Libya.

During yesterday's meeting Dr Frendo also gave an overview of Malta's involvement in the United Nations. He said Malta has not yet taken an official position regarding the proposed UN reform. This was, however, being looked at and considered. Malta welcomed the possibility for more members to sit on the Security Council.