No agreement on repatriation of migrants

No specific agreement on the repatriation of illegal immigrants was reached with Libya during the Prime Minister's visit to Tripoli last week, but experts from both countries are to meet to further discuss the issue, parliament heard.

Labour MP Joe Mizzi raised the issue during question time on Tuesday, when he also asked whether oil exploration were discussed with the Libyan authorities.

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said no specific agreement was reached on the migrants issue. He said that among the issues which were discussed were ways to improve the issue of visas for visitors between the two countries. Malta made verbal suggestions and written proposals would be made in the coming days.

Oil was not on the agenda but some talks were held on oil exploration issues. Oil purchases from Libya were not discussed.

Dr Frendo also referred to bilateral relations with other Mediterranean countries and said he hoped he would be able, by year's end, to visit Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria to underline the importance which Malta continued to give to relations with Mediterranean countries.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said working groups of experts would be meeting to further discuss the issue of visas, and illegal immigration. He augured that the good rapport which existed between Libya and Malta would be extended to the problem of illegal immigrants.

Referring to Labour Party calls for a national conference on illegal immigration, Dr Borg said that the issue of illegal immigrants had so far not been politicised and he hoped that would continue to be the case. Rather than conferences, what was needed was unity in the face of a problem which was affecting several countries.