Updated: Greek PM says Malta needs help on migration
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis acknowledged today that Malta needs help to deal with the migration problem.
He made his comment at the opening of talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at Castille.
Mr Karamanlis arrived in Malta this morning and was given a ceremonial welcome by an AFM Guard of Honour at Castille Place.
Following his talks with Dr Gonzi he will later call on President Eddie Fenech Adami and visit Mdina.
He will meet Opposition leader Joseph Muscat in the afternoon and leaves Malta tomorrow morning.
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Kenneth Cassar
Oct 11th 2008, 08:10
@ Franco Farrugia:
These things take time. Panic will solve nothing.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 10th 2008, 23:20
@ P Debono -What would you do with the immigrants, then? What would you have Malta do, rather than accepting them and treating them as they deserve to be treated???
Can you imagine Malta being out of the Union, just in order to please your whims? Can you imagine our laws and regulations not being at a par with the rest of EU member states? is that what you profess to prefer????
l Galea
Oct 10th 2008, 22:58
@Kenneth Cassar
p.s. re international obligations, we can get out of the refugee convention and other international obligations.
No state is required to cause damage to itself and its citizens in order to observe international obligations.
alfredmallia
Oct 10th 2008, 21:39
the talking of the greek pm remind me of the old times when rich people used to say to the poor: 'God help you' without giving them any help. the greek pm is giving to gonzipm his 'support' as all the eu countries will do. and our gonzipm will tell them ''thank you' amd the number of these illegal immigrants will increase,,, increase and increase...
P Debono
Oct 10th 2008, 21:28
@ Kenneth Cassar.
You're the one who's very wrong.
By being EU member states we must abide by the Dublin convention which requires us to provide shelter for illegal immigrants, keep them and PAY for refugees amongst other things. If we weren't an EU state we wouldn't be obliged to do so. Now I'm one of those that voted IVA but if I had the benefit of hindsight, I would've seriously considered voting no to EU membership.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 10th 2008, 20:16
In spite of the fact that some people commenting here - well, one, rather - will make out that they are so learned and know what is happening around them, I reiterate that the time has come when we realise that diplomacy has so far solved nothing and that we need action. Anyway, diplomacy has nothing to do with ceremonies and empty words.
Malta needs action and it needs it fast. While we continue to be respectful towards people in plight, we must leave no stone unturned in order to free our country from people who came here illegally. We are small in size and thus, we simply cannot accept these people here for a long time.
Today, even the Emigrants' Commission spoke about the fact that there are more immigrants coming into the country than local births, per year. This, in itself, is an eye-opener. It is such a powerful statement that had it been up to me, personally, I would not have had it published. But it's out for public scrutiny, now, anyway.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 10th 2008, 17:41
@ l Galea:
You're very wrong.
Regarding "reason" 1: Most of the "illgal immigrants" come from non-EU countries. You would say that in doing so, they "break the law". Now what makes you think they wouldn't come if Malta was not an EU member state? Do you honestly believe that they come here (most of them arrive here by accident anyway) in the belief that once here they can go anywhere in Europe? I find that very naive. The reason they end up here is because Malta is so close. Not being an EU member doesn't change this fact.
Regarding "reason" 2, were we not EU members, we would still be bound by international obligations and would still have to keep them here. Any "partnership" agreement with the EU would be terminated by the EU as soon as we opted out of our international obligations.
l Galea
Oct 10th 2008, 16:49
Alfred Farrugia
Two simple reasons.
1. The ILLEGAL immigrants would not have had an incentive to come here
2. We would not be bound by EU regulations which forces us to keep them here.
Alfred Farrugia
Oct 10th 2008, 16:23
Can the proponents of the “Switzerland in the Mediterranean” share with us what are their alternative solutions to this problem? Had that policy been implemented which country would be expected to share our burden?
I believe that we ought to thank the Prime Minister of Greece for his visit which signifies his support for a common cause.
a.cassar
Oct 10th 2008, 15:57
Greece is in no position to share the burden with us since that country is heavily hit by the influx itself. The person who can really help us is gaddafi but it seems he is above every law since he is sitting on millions of barrels of crude. We await his state visit where I suggest he is taken to see the detention centres and tent city. He is very fond of tents anyway as that is where he receives visitors!
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 10th 2008, 12:51
@ Charles Sammut:
Your reply actually proves the point I made. If it is true that the EU (which is nothing but its member states) has done nothing for Malta, the gaining of support of one member state (Greece) could only help matters to improve. Who is to say that other nations may not follow suit?
Joanne Micallef
Oct 10th 2008, 12:49
A clear case of how the voluntary burden sharing will work....all talk and no substance
Charles Sammut
Oct 10th 2008, 12:09
@ Kenneth Cassar
"The EU works through coalitions and diplomacy."
Yes, indeed! The EU has been very diplomatic with Malta.
Now the definition of diplomacy is the art of sending someone to hell and actually having him look forward to the trip.
That's where Malta is blithely heading.
Charmaine Chetcuti
Oct 10th 2008, 12:07
The Greek PM acknowledged that Malta needs help................and so??? Is he willing to be the first EU country to 'share the burden'?
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 10th 2008, 12:02
To some commentors below: Please learn how the EU works before commenting. The EU works through coalitions and diplomacy. The probability of any effective change in Malta's favour is enhanced when other member states support us. Only a naive person will think that the Greek PM's visit and his declaration will not help in any way. But then again, it seems that we have an abundance of "experts" who think they have a magic wand that will instantly solve all our problems.
A.Magri
Oct 10th 2008, 11:10
It's not migration we need help with but illegal migration.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 10th 2008, 11:04
Let's have less ceremony, less talk, and more action - and thus let's have more and more immigrants leaving the country.
l Galea
Oct 10th 2008, 10:52
All words and no action
theresa cassar
Oct 10th 2008, 10:51
Remember the song parole,parole,parole?????????
H Dempster
Oct 10th 2008, 10:45
There we go again . BLa BLa BLa. I don't understand as to why we don't carry a tape recorder and switch it on making the same comments.