US to take 'many more' refugees from Malta

US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro yesterday announced that the United States would be taking "many more" refugees from Malta.

She was addressing a news conference held a few hours after a first group of 22 refugees had left Malta for the US.

The refugees departed at 7.50 a.m. on a flight to Heathrow, from where they were scheduled to catch a connecting flight to the US.

Other refugees would follow later this year and the US, Ms Bordonaro said, intended to continue to expand the programme, details of which were being worked out.

The embassy was working with the local UNHCR office and the Emigrants' Commission to see who would be eligible for political refugee status. This would then be followed by interviews.

Ms Bordonaro said that in its bid to help Malta ease the migration problem, "many more" groups would be departing for the US in future. This was also being done in recognition of the dangers these people faced when leaving their country, even putting their lives at risk.

She was pleased to note that the long journey of those who left Malta yesterday had led them to the US where they would be able to embark on a new and better life.

Ms Bordonaro spoke on the visa waiver programme saying that talks between Malta and the US were ongoing. She said there was forward movement but a process had to take place.

The US had drawn up a road map which included specific security requirements with the aim of opening up this programme to new countries including EU member states which did not form part of it.

The ambassador said the sooner Malta adopted biometric passports, the earlier it would be made part of the programme. A biometric passport is a combined paper and electronic identity document.

A spokesman for the Home Affairs Ministry said yesterday that Malta would be introducing biometric passports in July.

Ms Bordonaro said discussions between Malta and the US were also ongoing on a double taxation agreement. Talks with the US Department of Treasury began last summer and a second meeting was being arranged.

Referring to US President George Bush's State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, Ms Bordonaro said that as part of its foreign policy priorities, the US was committed to ensuring that peace, democracy and freedom were achieved in Iraq. Although its commitment in Iraq was not open ended, it was increasing its troops by another 20,000, doubling its diplomatic presence and increasing its economic support.

It was also working with Iraq's neighbours to boost support for the Iraqi government.

In his address, Mr Bush also spoke of his country's commitment to peace in the Middle East and the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.

Ms Bordonaro said another important point made in the speech was on climate change. Mr Bush spoke of aiming to reduce gasoline usage in the US by 20 per cent over the next 10 years.

She said that between 2000 and 2004, the US rate of growth for carbon monoxide emissions was under two per cent compared to Europe's five per cent.