Malta, Tunisia sign extradition agreement

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and Tunisian counterpart Bechir Tekkari yesterday signed an extradition agreement between the two countries, the third such agreement between Malta and a north African state.

Dr Borg told a news conference that the extradition agreement would accelerate the legal process in both countries when crimes were committed by offenders who would have gone abroad.

It also paved the way for other agreements in the area of home affairs and justice, such as exchange visits between members of the judiciary and staff at the Attorney General's office.

Malta also has extradition agreements with Libya, Egypt, with all members of the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth countries and the US.

Mr Tekkari said the agreement was in line with the dynamics of the relationship between the two countries.

It was the start of cooperation in the sphere of justice. Ideas were exchanged on cooperation and the final objective was to work in the interest of Maltese and Tunisian citizens.