The government said today that assistance it could give to migrants at sea would vary according to the nature of the case - from taking to the nearest port those migrants who were forced to abandon their boat, to assisting such persons to continue on their way without danger.
The declaration was issued after a Cabinet meeting which discussed the latest standoff with Italy on responsibility for migrants rescued at sea.
The government concluded that:
- The Italian claim that it did not have the assets to help the migrants found last week just 24 miles off Lampedusa was contradicted by the fact the Maltese patrol boat which arrived on site found an Italian helicopter flying overhead;
- The unilateral Italian government decision that Lampedusa was not a safe port was unacceptable since Lampedusa was an integral part of Italy and linked by frequent and regular transport.
- The fact that the Italian authorities had not allowed the Maltese patrol boat to take the migrants to Lampedusa, which was the nearest safe port, was a violation of Italy’s international obligations and also went against the practice which was always followed by Italy and Malta.
The government said that according to international maritime law, Malta’s obligation was to coordinate operations in its search and rescue region. This did not exonerate Italy from its moral, ethical and legal obligation to receive, in the nearest harbour, people who were rescued at sea.
The government said it recognised the problems faced by Italy because of the influx of migrants, but Malta was facing a problem which was far bigger. Therefore, the Italian government’s behaviour was unacceptable.
The government said it also understood that Italy wanted to take over part of Malta’s search and rescue region and flight information region and this might be affecting its attitude towards its international obligations.
Malta, however, could neither accept Italy’s desire, nor the transfer to Malta, of Italy’s obligations.
The government reiterated that Malta would continue to honour its international obligation to help people in distress.