Sunday, 12th October 2008 - 12:43CET
AN urges the prime minister not to sign Immigration Pact
Azzjoni Nazzjonali leader Josie Muscat this morning urged the Prime Minister not to sign the EU Immigration Pact next Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr Muscat said that since the burden-sharing provisions of the pact were voluntary, this pact would be about as successful as Frontex, which, he said, had failed dismally and had actually served to attract migrants to Malta.
Dr Muscat also hit out strongly against the MLP, saying that while Joseph Muscat said that Dr Gonzi should not sign the pact, George Vella, speaking in Parliament last week, said the MLP was four-square with the government on immigration.
The AN leader said immigration could potentially be a disaster for Malta in view of the huge numbers of migrants who were arriving. It was significant, he said, that when AN was the first to raise the alarm, its officials were labelled as racists and the problem was hidden. But the truth was now emerging and all parties were changing their positions.
He warned that the problem could become much more serious if the families of refugees were allowed to join them in Malta.
Dr Muscat said AN would hold a protest against the Immigration Pact on Thursday and it was urging racists not to attend.
Asked what he would have done if he was Prime Minister, Dr Muscat said he would have taken Malta out of the Dublin II Convention - which delineates Malta's search and rescue region. Migrants, he said, should only be allowed in Malta for a month, after which they should either be repatriated, sent to other EU countries, or put on seaworthy and provisioned vessels and allowed to go on their way.
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The hardest thing to do in politics is to create interest in your party.
Creating fear of immigrants, and then selling yourself as the best person to handle them, this is what AN and ilk are all about.
Any way I wish AN good attendance (three digit number), if so, this would be more than number of votes they get a hold with last March!
Ofcourse the Labour Party agrees with the PN government that illegal immigration is a problem (who doesn't?), however they believe the PN government should have done more to make the pact a binding one in relation to Malta.
This idea being by perpetuated by PN that Dr. Joseph Muscat and MLP are not on the same page is the usual political spin being employed at this stage to impress on some a false impression.
That would be an effective solution to all our irregular immigration problems, but is that possible? I mean do we need the EU's permission to do this?
The above is the answer to all who crave for solutions to this problem of magnitude proportions.
It is plain and simple! No signing of this farce of a pact will make the problem go away. It will make the government of this nation a sitting duck at the mercy of European whims and fancy. It will be sealing our fate to go it all alone with a puny signature.
At least 80% of respondents to The Times survey also agree
‘Asked what he would have done if he was Prime Minister, Dr Muscat said he would have taken Malta out of the Dublin II Convention’
This sounds more like spaghettis Dr. Muscat.
I guess Malta is still a member of both the EU and UN
‘ Migrants, he said, should only be allowed in Malta for a month, after which they should either be repatriated, sent to other EU countries, or put on seaworthy and provisioned vessels and allowed to go on their way.’
Any who will pay and accommodate these people in this seaworthy and provisioned vessels Dr. Muscat? And for how long? And most importantly leading the vessel to which direction?
The EU must recognise that because of its small size, exceptions should be made for Malta with regard to this issue before this Immigration Pact is signed. Malta's sovreignity and uniqueness should be recognised, protected and cherished. It should not be expected to keep on taking in thousands of illegal immigrants who willingly risk their lives by getting into boats from the shores of North Africa heading for Europe, especially now that the alarming statistics have been revealed by the Emigrants Commission. Also, the size of Malta's search and rescue area is ludicruously out of proportion to its size.
Legislation must be put in place immediately to protect this small, beautiful but very overpopulated country from further influx before the new 'immigrant' season starts next year. So far, the only real protection Malta has from illegal invasion is the inclement weather! Is this not a disgrace in this day and age?