UNHCR asked to help Malta on illegal immigration

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo has asked the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to appreciate Malta's special circumstances as a small state with the highest density of population in Europe and to help the island especially in the resettlement of refugees and persons with humanitarian status.

The minister made his appeal during talks in Geneva with UNHCR High Commissioner Antonio Guterres, the former Portuguese Prime Minister.

Dr Frendo asked the UNHCR to add its voice in the fight against illegal immigration since this is prejudicial to the interests of genuine refugees and of persons who are to be given humanitarian status.

He thanked the UNHCR for its collaboration in the resettlement of a number of refugees from Malta in the Netherlands and said that Malta looks forward to other such instances of solidarity.

Mr Guterres said the UNHCR, while fully carrying out its protection mandate, wanted to help in finding solution for Malta which, he said, "needs a special solution for a special problem".

Malta, together with other countries, in particular Spain and Italy, has been requesting greater burden-sharing in the EU on the question of illegal immigration.

Mr Guterres said the UNHCR would be willing to join Malta and other interested parties in an attempt to find these special solutions for Malta's special problem as a small state, that is a point of entry in the centre of the Mediterranean for illegal immigration.

In Geneva, Dr Frendo also met Brunson McKinley, director- general of the International Organisation of Migration, an inter-governmental organisation which deals with the management of migration.

The IOM, which collaborates closely with the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, has 288 offices worldwide and will shortly open its own office in Malta.