Malta, Libya preparing joint paper on migration

Malta and Libya are drawing up a common paper on illegal migration to be presented at the 5+5 meeting of countries bordering the Mediterranean in June, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told the European and Foreign Affairs Committee. The 5+5 is this year being presided by Malta.

Addressing the committee on a number of meetings he had over the past few weeks, Dr Frendo said that Malta's relations with Libya were excellent and continuing to improve.

He said that Libya, like other countries, was concerned about the illegal migration issue. Malta was now formulating a draft paper, which was to be discussed with Libya at a later stage.

Dr Frendo said that during a meeting with the Libyan Prime Minister, he pointed out that the Maltese wanted to be partners in the development of Libya. An initiative which could be taken was for the University of Malta to offer MBA courses in Libya.

Another initiave, proposed by Libya, was for the setting up of a Malta-Libya business commission. This was in the process of being set up and 10 people - five each from both countries, had been nominated.

Dr Frendo also spoke about his visit to the Middle East. He said that this was actually a visit to the Palestinian Authority but following that he also met the Israeli Foreign Minister.

President Mahmoud Abbas, Dr Frendo said, had already proven his committment to achieving peace in the region. It was clear that he was trying to show that the moderate line he was taking would yield results.

Dr Frendo said he planned to make an official visit to Israel shortly.

Malta, he said, was committed to Middle East peace and wanted a presence there and open dialogue with all sides.

Touching on other meetings, Dr Frendo said that during a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she visited the EU, he had raised the visa waiver programme, pointing out that the US should extend this programme to all EU countries.

Dr Frendo asked the committee to continue insisting on this point during its visit to the US next week.

Committee chairman Jason Azzopardi said the committee's members had every intention of discussing the visa requirement as well as the need for a new double taxation agreement between Malta and the US.

On his meetings in the EU, Dr Frendo said that at the General Affairs Council he had taken a strong position on Malta's eligibility for assistance under Objective 1, insisting that it was unacceptable for Malta not to be given this status. This issue had now been resolved.

An issue which had not yet been resolved was on the opening of EU accession talks with Croatia. Malta, together with a minority of countries including Austria, had taken the position that negotiations should start so as to avoid encouraging extreme nationalist sentiments in region. If negotiations started, the EU could always decide the pace they should take.

Dr Frendo also spoke on a visit he made to Tunis, saying Malta and Tunisia had agreed to draw up a joint paper on cultural heritage and how this could be used for economic development.

Labour MP George Vella said that since such a paper was being drawn up, it should propose a Mediterranean treaty which would establish that the artifacts on the Mediterranean seabed belonged to Mediterranean cultures and could not be taken away.

He said there were people who had the technology and were exploiting the Mediterranean for its artifacts, which were then being auctioned in New York and in London, for example.

Dr Frendo said that this was a very interesting proposal and should be taken into consideration.

Dr Azzopardi said he had been informed by the Speaker that a Libya-Malta parliamentary friendship group was in the process of being formed and both whips had been asked to nominate members.

He said that the Israeli ambassador was to meet the Foreign Affairs committee next month. The committee was to be invited to visit Israel and the region at the beginning of next year.

Dr Azzopardi said that he was officially invited last week to lead a delegation in Tunisia in June to intensify relations. He said that a parliamentary friendship group between Malta and Tunisia was also being set up.

Labour MP Leo Brincat asked Dr Frendo about his visit to India.

Dr Frendo said this had been an interesting visit. India was developing fast and Malta had to see how it could attract investment from India.