Malta's 'tough line' at Morocco conference

Malta will take a very tough line at tomorrow's Euro-African conference on Migration and Development in Rabat, Morocco, according to Foreign Minister Michael Frendo.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, Dr Frendo hinted that Malta could refuse to endorse the final declaration of the conference - co-organised by Morocco, Spain and the European Commission - unless the document was left open for signature by East African countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea not invited to the conference - but from which many illegal immigrants to the Central Mediterranean originate. He added that these countries should also be eligible to serve on the follow-up committee set up to implement the declaration's provisions.

"Malta is absolutely opposed to the compartmentalisation of the issue, as reflected by the guest-list and in the draft Rabat Declaration", he stated. "Italy also seems to follow this way of thinking against institutionalising a regional approach. In fact the European Council had originally endorsed a holistic, Mediterranean-wide focus.

"The senior ministry officials accompanying me will fan out at the conference to make our views and the state of Maltese public opinion understood by key participants from 30 European and 27 African states. The approach to illegal immigration into the Mediterranean must cover all countries of origin and transit routes. We want to ensure that our area, the central Mediterranean is not left to its own devices. This will simply encourage traffickers to divert and concentrate their activities in our sector.

"We also insist that the European Commission and Libya must agree now on a firm date and a holistically-based agenda for the AU-EU conference in Tripoli

"In addition, we intend to send a clear message that Malta is going to step up its work within the EU for the effective implementation of Article 13 of the Cotonou Agree-ment linking the Union with 64 African, Caribbean and Pacific states, with regards repatriation and readmission of illegal immigrants by their home countries".

Dr Frendo confirmed that diplomatic contacts with ACP countries take place mainly through Malta's embassies in Rome and Tripoli. Moreover, Malta's ambassador to Egypt, Dr Richard Vella Laurenti had recently presented his credentials to Sudan and to the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia.

"Joint EU maritime patrols into our sector this summer, as soon as technically possible, remain an absolute priority for Malta," Dr Frendo insisted. "I welcome Com-missioner Frattini's statement to the European Parliament debate last Wednesday indicating active consideration of these patrols, to be launched even without the participation of Libya. Of course I would welcome even more such patrols taking place with Libya as an active participant.

"I also take this opportunity to thank the Maltese MEPs, as well as their European colleagues, for their excellent advocacy on Malta's problems during Wednesday's EP debate."

The statement which Dr Frendo issued to EU ambassadors during a meeting at the ministry last Monday, had resulted in positive feedback and understanding of Malta's position.

Asked whether Malta would withhold support to European Council decisions on some issue requiring unanimous approval, as a bargaining chip to obtain faster action and greater financial support to Malta on illegal immigration issues, Dr Frendo stated: "We do not like to think in these terms. We are team players. That's a truly extreme and desperate measure. We do not cross bridges before we come to them."

Meanwhile, Dr Frendo was cautious about proposals coming from some quarters to revise the EU's 'Dublin II' agreement on illegal immigration, so that Malta would become a 'transit only' state. "There is no quick fix," he said.