Malta calls on Libya to 'cooperate'

Malta yesterday made strong representations with Libya over illegal immigration, saying it was "not in a position" to accept more migrants leaving from Libyan shores.

As the island grapples with one of its worst immigration crises, Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo summoned Libya's Ambassador to Malta, Saad El-Shelmani, to an urgent meeting in the afternoon and asked him to "urgently" transmit this message to the authorities in Tripoli.

Dr Frendo underlined the need for Libya to cooperate with Malta on the matter.

The minister has appointed Martin Scicluna as special envoy on illegal immigration to assist in the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the government. Mr Scicluna is also adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry will actively follow the matter over the next few days in close collaboration with the Home Affairs Ministry, the government said in a statement.

Illegal immigration was also discussed in the morning in Cabinet and in the evening by an emergency task force set up to tackle the massive influx of asylum seekers.

Two days ago, 206 irregular immigrants landed in Malta in one group and another 50 followed soon after in two groups of 25, one on Sunday morning and another on Sunday night. They have pushed the number who have already landed here this year to over 800, stretching the armed forces and Malta's detention centres to their limits.

Malta has been asking Libya to draw up a repatriation agreement for four years. But despite the words of goodwill nothing has been forthcoming, even as thousands of asylum seekers reportedly continue to leave Libyan shores.

Libya argues that the sheer length of its coastline - 4,000 km - makes any serious patrolling and control practically impossible. Recently the EU offered to carry out joint air and sea patrols with the Libyan forces and wants to press for repatriation agreements.

Italy has a repatriation and border agreement with Libya which entitles it to send back immigrants if it is proven that they had left from the North African country. The Italian government has however been subsequently accused of flouting international conventions in the methods used.

Last April, the European Parliament voted to call on Italy to stop deporting illegal immigrants to Libya, saying that they risked ill treatment there and possible death back home.

According to the European Parliament, Libya "is not a signatory to the Geneva convention (on refugees)..., does not have an asylum system, does not offer a real guarantee of refugees' rights and practices arbitrary arrest".

While praising the initiative taken recently by five EU member states to start joint repatriation flights to take illegal immigrants back to their homeland or point of departure, EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini recently said he would prefer if these initiatives were backed by all member states and administered under EU auspices.

In Cabinet yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg gave an overview of the illegal migration problem in Malta, telling his colleagues that the number of arrivals this year has doubled over last year's, with around 830 irregular immigrants having landed so far.

Among other measures, the Cabinet agreed to allocate more finances to the detention centres and underlined the need to continue with the intense diplomatic negotiations with both the EU and neighbouring countries in an attempt to stem the flow.

Malta is pushing the concept of burden sharing and recently called upon other EU states to accept a refugee resettlement programme.

Later yesterday, a meeting was held between Dr Borg, Police Commissioner John Rizzo, AFM Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary Anthony Abela and Mr Scicluna.