Saturday, 18th April 2009 - 16:28CET

Government should not give in to Italian government - AD

The government should not give in to the bullying attitude of populist Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, Alternattiva chairman Arnold Cassola said this morning.

Addressing a news conference in Valletta, he said: “The Interior Minister Roberto Maroni comes from the populist right-wing Lega Nord party, that is well know for its xenophobic and racist attitudes even vis a vis Italians not coming from the north of Italy.

“Italy, like the rest of EU countries, is in the midst of an election campaign and Maroni is playing the usual tough guy in order to gain consensus among the Lega voters in the North of Italy.

“Maroni knows pretty well that the rule of international law binds ship captains to take any migrants to the nearest safe haven, which in this case is Lampedusa. No discussion about this."

Prof. Cassola said that Malta’s search and rescue area at sea was disproportionate to its means and resources. Therefore, unless provided with ships, funds, human and all other adequate resources by the European Union to be able to carry out the work of saving lives effectively at sea, Malta would find it difficult to honour its commitments unless it gave up a substantial part of its search and rescue area at sea.

Yesterday, Mr Maroni accused Malta of not taking its responsibilities on migration and dumping migrants on Italy.

He said that relations between Malta and Italy had taken a bad turn recently over this issue and he asked EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot to intervene and convince Malta to assume its responsibilities.

But Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said that Italy’s objections were unacceptable.

While he understood that Italy has its immigration problems to face, the Maltese government could not accept immigrants found closer to Italian ports.

Next article • Updated: Girl on board ship with migrants airlifted to Lampedusa

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Saturday, November 21, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Margaret Richards (on 24/4/09)

Dear Mr. Schranz, quote "Arnold Cassola has always been clear, consistent and precise". If you really do believe this then I'll start believing that flies are white and not black. If Dr. Cassola got 23,000 votes during last MEP elections, from the way he's acting out, with all the records of U turns and inconsistencies especially in social issues such as abortion, divorce, maternity leave and last but not least immigration, I won't raise high hopes if i were you, because as far as I know he who plays aims very high up, can come down with a very loud bang!!!

Richard Schranz (on 20/4/09)

@ Malcolm Seychell Arnold Cassola has always been clear, consistent and precise in his analyses, evaluation and proposals for solutions to economic, social, environmental and civil rights issues which beset our country. Irregular immigration is not an exception. Perhaps what struck me most was his argument that no lasting solution to this problem can be found until the source of this problem, namely the criminal rings, which are allowed to plan, organize and carry out , with impunity, the illegal transport of so many poor and desperate people seeking refuge from persecution and death and better living conditions in mainland Europe. I am not convinced that Libya and Italy are doing enough to nip this problem in the bud. This begs the question: could the multi-billion business interests between the two countries have any bearing on the apparent lack of a serious, dedicated and common approach towards the elimination of these criminal activities? In the 2004 EP elections, Arnold Cassola got 23,000 first count votes. Good luck, Mr Seychell! You need it, lots of it!

Steven Brockwell (on 20/4/09)

hey Mr Italy this is all a problem for front line countries. so instead of fighting, unite as one and tackle the E so called union ?

Kenneth Cassar (on 20/4/09)

@ Malcolm Seychell:

From where did you deduce that AD is now "against illegal immigrants"? Come on, I am sure you are cleverer than this.

Also, if Prof Cassola was still in Italy, he would not have taken the immigrants, for the simple reason that Prof Cassola would not have been Prime Minister.

Last but not least, when you get at least half the votes Prof Cassola got the last time he contested for the EP elections, we will know who is taken seriously.

Steven Brockwell (on 19/4/09)

the italian priminister is a clever man. this could all be some sort of a plot to create a situation to get the international medias attention so the eu will listen to both of our pleas. bad publicity works all the time. if you want to be heard create a situation. time will provail.

Ivan Attard (on 19/4/09)

The sheer and unadulterated hypocrisy and opportunism of the 'green' AD party under Cassola!!!
What utter hogwash coming from those who were against the detention centres and in favour of Burden sharing!!
Roll on AD to another pathetic performance at the polls!

Robert Callus (on 19/4/09)

@David Caruana
Finally someone is talking some sense.
Though on many matters I don't support the PN, this is a national situation. We must show the Italians that we can be united and not succumb to their bullying.
The real problem is not this particular boat, but giving a precedent for the Italian govt for more abuse and the impression he can use Malta like he is doing in Lampedusa.

One has to note that the people of Lampedusa, though Italian are also treated as second class citizens by the notorious Lega Nord. As Cassola says, Maroni is creating this conflict to get sympathy from the north of Italy. He doesn't get from the South anyway

David Caruana (on 19/4/09)

Glied, glied u iktar glied! Bla bla bla bla! Jahasra ma rridux nitghallmu ahna l-Maltin! Jekk ma tghallimna minn xejn minn din il-kwistjoni, suppost ghandna nindunaw iktar li ahna l-Maltin qeghdin 450,00 kontra 500,000,000 (popolazzjoni EU)... igifieri jekk ha nkomplu nilletikaw bejnietna, inqas ha naslu! Nizzlu x-xwabel ghal darba u nippruvaw "nilbsu z-zarbun" ta' huna Malti u nifhmu kif jahsiba qabel ma niggudikaw u niggieldu.

Mela Arnodls Cassola ghamel kumment favur Malta (jekk ghandux agendi mohbija jew le ma jinteressanix, ghax kulhadd jista' jispekula li jrid) u minflok incapcpulu (jew nghalqu halqna jekk niddubitawh), kulhadd ha joqghod jattakkah! Ma nkunx sorpriz jekk bhala poplu nibqghu nghazqu fin-niexef! U ifhmuni! ;-)

lgalea (on 19/4/09)

Joseph E Briffa
Detention should be extended indefinitely until the illegal immigrants are repatriated. The are ILLEGAL and have absolutely NO right to be in Malta.Their only right is to be in their own countries. Crap is the voluntary burden sharing agreement that everybody tole the government not to sign. We are now seeing how our friends!!! in the EU interprets it. As for the illegal immigrants being eligible for a Maltese passport if they stay here after five years is another piece of crap. They will not be eligible unless they find some Maltese citizen ready to marry them and then find themselves alone after their partner leaves them with their children and goes to another Eu country or the USA with his Maltese passport as many illegal immigrants were heard to brag that they will do.

B Xuereb (on 19/4/09)

If Malta cannot carry out it's obligations because of the size of it's search and rescue area(which by the way, is the size it is due to British Naval might in the 19th Century and nothing else) then it must downsize..The reason it does not do so is because there are fee's to be earned from passenger aircraft everytime they fly over this space. A case of benefit from something without suffering the side effects. In this case, it might be that the benefits are too small when compared to the outlay. For want of a better quote,"You cannot have your cake and eat it ".

Grant Dines (on 19/4/09)

Sounds like these italians have done a secret deal with Libya so Libya can gain more sea boundary.

Time for malta to dump italy and find a new ally, maybe Britian maybe the US.

Malta cannot let go of the huge oil potential in it's legally recognied sea boundries.

Fight Malta!

s camilleri (on 19/4/09)

All politicians are the same all they want from us is our taxes and that of employers who demand cheap labour. The politicians say that illegal immigrants are a problem to our faces yet they bring Pakistanis to work in the Free Port. Now if that is not laughing in your face what is?
These politicians do not care about us but only about rhetoric and looking good amongst their kind.
Do NOT vote for any of them whether they come under a Red, Blue, Green or, Yellow banner.
Let them go to their friends who they support. All they are after is the cushy jobs and money while they burden us with ever increasing taxes to support their friends who are foreign and have more say than you.

Stephen Vella (on 19/4/09)

None of the other EU countries offered to take them in particularly Sweden. Is this the kind of EU that we joined? All they do to a small country like ours is dictate. Lets see with whom Barroso will side wether it is with the Italians or the Maltese !!!

Robert Callus (on 18/4/09)

Many ask what Arnold Cassola would have done. Apart from believing he would have supported Malta, I'm sure things would have been different. Cassola was part of a decent (far from perfect) coalition under Romano Prodi. Such shameful bullying would not have taken place.
This is a completely different regime, leaded by a criminal, in a coalition with the far right Lega Nord, from where our friend Maroni comes.

Muscat. Pat (on 18/4/09)

@Joseph E Briffa
One can only help these people by educating them at source and stop their very corrupt leaders from siphoning off their wealth to Switzerland. Moreover the EU should stop greedy Western countries and companies from exploiting these lands. France, for example, is fermenting rebellion in Niger because the present government does not want to sell uranium to France! France and Italy need the uranium for their new numerous nuclear power stations. It is no wonder Africans leave their countries. In the meantime France is the main sponsor for MSF.
The only just and viable long term solution for these brothers and sisters, is to develop their country, use their knowhow and knowledge to improve their life at source. If this is not done illegal immigration will continue for decades to come.

Alex Tanti (on 18/4/09)

Right on Profs Cassola....yet following comments make it clear why most energy is wasted about on this island....time is up for all to take a proactive stance, and do all we so that this gets highlighted on most prominent us/uk/eu media...hopefully something effective be done about it up in brussles by our dearest politicians...(pun intended) without the need or all this human tragedy....how come nothing of the sort be covered by bbc world?

Alex Spiteri (on 18/4/09)

@c.camilleri..."Pity that Arnold Cassola no longer occupies a seat in the Italian Parliament "...he was a member of the far-left coalition, which works in favour of immigrants rights and supports the on going invasion!

Karl Littlejohn (on 18/4/09)

I understand ADs efforts. But i believe its too little, too late since this PR is issued from a Green left wing party. One must remember what Green policies pose when tackling Illegal immigration. A few months ago AD was in favour of reducing the detention period.

Greens across Europe can't be trusted on hot issues such as Immigration. One can't separate local Green AD from European Greens. I hope Dr.Cassola talks to Ms.Frassoni about this!

Stephen Farrugia (on 18/4/09)

"@ J Borg

Charles Sammut was one of the first people to talk against illegal immigration and I can only say that he is, one very smart man.
If Malta had a few men like him, we would not be in this national mess or crisis.

Alex Borg (on 18/4/09)

Cassola's past experience as Italian MP is beside the point. Those with some insight in Italian politics should not find it too difficult to understand that his analysis is correct. Countries' foreign policies change depending on who is in government, and who is the incumbent minister. In this case Maroni is a major exponent of the Lega Nord who are notoriously xenophobic and he clearly wants to show he is being tough on immigrants to lure voters. This is not a case of an us-and-them syndrome so typical of our centuries old siege mentality.

Charles Sammut (on 18/4/09)

@ J Grima

And your point is?

The Italians have a saying "Fra due litiganti, il terzo gode."
And this is exactly the situation. We have Italy and Malta squabbling over these illegal immigrants while the colonel down south laughs at us.

Wouldn't it be better to get together and do something concrete about holding Libya responsible for this mess?

c.camilleri (on 18/4/09)

Pity that Arnold Cassola no longer occupies a seat in the Italian Parliament as he would have intervened in the matter. The question however remains whether his loyalty would have been to those who elected him or to Malta.

J. Borg (on 18/4/09)

@ Charles Sammut

Sure......as TRUE as NET News, PN party machine and Gonzi's Department of "Information"!

Enjoy your utophia

J Grima (on 18/4/09)

@Mr.Sammut

Do you even realise that the Italian government (famously) is a coalition?

Paul Barrett (on 18/4/09)

@ Joseph E Briffa - Quote: Perhaps the Authorities should consider reducing the detention period of immigrants to 6 months. NEVER.
The current problem is only the tip of the iceberg - there are thousands of non-Europeans ready to move this way. The 18 month detention period is still not enough, it should be indefinite until their Country of Origin is admitted and those with no asylum reason to be assisted until it is safe for them to return to their own country, voluntarily agree to return to their own country or stay in detention forever.

Failing the above, Malta and the rest of Europe for that matter, will be totally over-run. This is not a raciest thought but a fact of life.

Charles Aquilina (on 18/4/09)

qed taraw hu hbieb maltin u ghawdxin kemm jafuwulna il-barranin!!!!!! U AHNA NOQODU NIFTAHRU BIHOM!!!! MA NITALMU QATT!!!!!

J.Spiteri (on 18/4/09)

While Malta and Italy are battling it out as to which country should take these people, Libya's colonel is taking a back seat, and is simply not bothered by what is going on. Libya is, after all, their country of origin , and that's where they should be returned to. Not one single person from this ship should be brought to Malta. If we give in this time it will spell disaster to our country.We must not be intimidated by neither Il Cavaliere nor by Sig. Maroni, or anybody who supports their views. But perhaps, Il Cavaliere would rather not irritate Gaddafi by asking HIM to take back these people. After all, to him, Libya is more important than Malta.

malcolm seychell (on 18/4/09)

Remember AD was also in favour of the VOLUNTARY burden sharing.

In the past I had debates with Dr Harry Vassallo on this issue.

I argued a lot with him on this issue. But at least I admire him because he is consistent in his believes.

AD under Professor Cassola are going for all the popular issue. Prof Cassola is showing he is not diffrent from some old politicians we have. on this island.

If Berlusconi and Maroni are so popular in this moment of crises it is also thanks to Prof Cassola and his extreme left coalition. They delivered so badly in those 2 years that practically the big majority of Italians are ready to vote for anyone rather then the Left or Extreme Left.

Charles J. Buttigieg (on 18/4/09)

Reds, Blue, Greens and the rest, let’s keep united on this issue, the African adventurers have been taken us for a ride for a very long time. These people are not seeking political asylum they just want a European way of life as Libya isn’t good enough for them.

P Portelli (on 18/4/09)

Jien nahseb wasal z-zmien li jibda jsir pressjoni vera fuq il-gvern u l-unjoni ewropeja. Bhala Maltin ma nistghux nibqaw passivi ghal din il-problema. Dan qed nghidu minghajr ebda hsieb razzista, anzi nemmen le f'Malta jista' jsir skema ta' integrazzjoni socjali ghal dawk l-immigranti li nghataw l-istatus ta' refugjat. Pero wisq nibza li jekk dan l-influss ta' immigranti ikompli f'pajjizna, qatt naslu fi stat li nibdew ninsew l-gheruq u l-indentita' vera taghna !

Charles Sammut (on 18/4/09)

@ J Borg

You are way off target. I am a true nationalist and not a GonziPN'ist. Don't waste your pity on me, save it for the opportunistic Greens.

Joseph E Briffa (on 18/4/09)

After 5 years, if they are still here, they would qualify for a Maltese passport which will entitle them to go to any EU country. In the meantime, I think they prefer to be at large and do some work even if they are exploited. rather than be held in detention centres. It's the penalty they have to pay for the illegal manner they entered Europe. I have a feeling that most of them do not want to stay here, they use Malta as a stepping stone to mainland Europe.

Joseph E Briffa (on 18/4/09)

@Eddie Bonello..the PL suggestions are alot of crap....they are nice to read on paper but Joseph Muscat is intelligent enough to know that they can't be put intio practice unless we want to make ourselves hated in all the EU states. We must not forget that we are a tiny nation and although we have the same right and duties as the big states we have no clout; further the EU states will not accept any dictation by Malta. As for your comment that the EU states don't care about the Mediterranean countries, I think the same is true about the Med countries' attitude towards the Scandinavians and the countries of central Europe. Not in my backyard is the motto. We should look after ourselves but there is a limit. Nobody wants to be lumbered with these Africans. Unfortunately we and other Europeans must admit that we look down upon them. But they are still human beings like us though not Caucasians. Perhaps the Authorities should consider reducing the detention period of immigrants to 6 months. After that they could be left at large. If they cause trouble they should be tried in court like the rest of us.

J. Borg (on 18/4/09)

@ Charles Sammut
Guess you had followed Arnold's intervention in the Italian parliament - ONLY from what reported in your beloved NET Gospel.
I simply pity you....

E. Azzopardi (on 18/4/09)

Good for our dear friends the Italians . From many of these and other comments I have seen, they managed to turn Maltese against Maltese !!! Bravi ghalikom hey !!! We should all be united irrespective !!!! But then we must also have the - - - - !!!

Martin Farrugia (on 18/4/09)

Typical Green hypocrisy. First they wanted to abolish the detention centres, than, after seeing the absurdity of the idea, they said that 6 months detention was enough, and now all of a sudden the Greens want to outdo Azzjoni Nazzjonali. Pull the other one, Arnold. We have enough fakers on the bandwagon.

simon james schembri (on 18/4/09)

Mela m'ghadhomx turisti issa....x' inbidel f' daqqa wahda? daqshekk permessi tax-xoghol lil immigranti ?

L- ewwel tghajjru lil Azzjoni Nazzjonali ...u issa ma tridux immigranti....ghax tafu MIN KELLU RAGUN. LOL. Milli jidher il- konsistenza ma tafux x' inhi ux.

paul galea (on 18/4/09)

There seems that there is collusion between Italy and Libya for Malta to relinquish part of it's search and rescue area . Cassola knows that we are limited militarily but up to now Italy played game . If oil is the reason ,the only just solution would be joint operations between the three countries . Minister C. Mifsud Bonnici is right to point out that no one can change the rules unilateraly . EU must stop playing soft with Libya and be decisive , Libya needs a friendly EU as much as vice versa . So it should stop dumping the same people it attracted to it's terrotary because now they are a problem.

Moses Mula (on 18/4/09)

These statements below indicate that you got AD all wrong. One said that AD took a U-turn in the immigrants issue, but Cassola only rightly stated that immigrants have to be picked by the land that is closer to were they are. Can you please point out exactly were he stated that Malta should not help immigrants in its waters keep immigrants in poorly kept detentions, or send all immigrants back? I know most of you would love to gain more supporters in your anti-immigrant " cause " but to be so desperate to reed an article and see what you want to see instead of paying attention to what the article really says. Then again, it might be a case of difficulties with the english language.

louise vella (on 18/4/09)

The Swedish minister told us to turn the problem of illegal immigrants into an opportunity.
Right, let Sweden intervene in the present stand-off and take all the illegal immigrants on the ship to Sweden (unless the bishop of Gozo volunteers).

Alex Spiteri (on 18/4/09)

the concerned greens, the same greens who wanted to abolish detention centres, granting voting rights and social housing to immigrants!

Libya should be the only destination of those immigrants, neither Italy nor Malta!

R. Caruana (on 18/4/09)

AD jumping on the bandwagon again! How pathetic.

Dr Cassola should know having been an Italian MP, that one Italian govt after another has done nothing to solve the black economy. It is that type of economy that attracts these immigrants, knowing that in Italy they can find a job, working illegally for peanuts, but always better than in their own country. Italy is now reaping what is sowed.

Take these ex-colonials of yours, Italy, and stop playing about.

eddie bonello (on 18/4/09)

It is becoming quite obvious that our "FRIENDS" in Europe are not the least interested in what is happening in the South of Europe. and to add insult to injury our beloved neighbour is also trying to bully around.

No other way but to put into force the proposals put forward by the PL.

Margaret Richards (on 18/4/09)

Wow!!! Another U turn. Dr. Cassola said that “The Interior Minister Roberto Maroni comes from the populist right-wing Lega Nord party, that is well know for its xenophobic and racist attitudes even vis a vis Italians not coming from the north of Italy." But at the same time, he's all of a sudden in a bout of anti-immigration feelings, thus vote collecting. But apart from that it seems that Dr. Cassola is daring the Italian Right Wing Party to launch a war of words with him, thus enhancing his image anew in the Italian Political Sphere. It does not take much to notice this as for the past days he's been attacking the Italian Right Wing as if it's the most important thing on his agenda. Also getting unobtainable votes is one thing, really showing a humanitarian side is another!!!

Mario Busuttil (on 18/4/09)

Our government already took such measures before these similar actions,it is not easy when you take such actions on illegal immigrants,altough everyone has the same {OPINION},In my opinion we have to force europenion countries especially Italians that we are not PURCINELLI of nobody because this was not the first time when Italian forces told us to accept immigrants to our country ,,,when these where in their terretories,,,,,,Keep it up DR. GONZI we CITIZEINS are all after this issue.

Charles Sammut (on 18/4/09)

Dear Prof. Cassola

What would your stance have been had you still been a member of the Italian government?

Have you changed your tune now that you are playing fro a different audience?

Ma ci faccia 'l piacere!

J Azzopardi (on 18/4/09)

Coming from an anti right-wing green party such as statement is so ambivalent as to be pathetic. AD's propositions are exactly identical to those of the Italian right-wing elements.

Alfred Bugeja (on 18/4/09)

As if the Government has not made it clear enough already that it will not take and hogwash from the Italians.

Malcolm Seychell (on 18/4/09)

Ha haj, very funny, now we have AD also against illegal immigrants!!!!.

I am sure if Prof Cassola was still in Italy he would have taken these illegal immigrants.

Noboday can take you seriously on this issue.

Government should not give in to Italian government - AD

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