Malta to propose checkpoint in Libya

Malta will be proposing the setting up of a checkpoint in Libya to monitor the flow of fleeing Africans - a move it hopes will significantly reduce human trafficking while at the same time respect human rights.

Should Libya, the EU, and pivotal humanitarian organisations like the UN Refugee Agency come on board, the initiative could go a long way towards solving the illegal immigration problem, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici told The Sunday Times yesterday.

Apart from a planned meeting with his Italian counterpart Roberto Maroni and EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot in Libya shortly, the minister will be seeking a meeting with the UNHCR to discuss the suggestion. Malta's proposal comes in the midst of mounting pressure to take the cue from Italy and start returning all immigrants rescued at sea to Libya.

Italy returned a boatload of 227 rescued immigrants last Thursday. However, the move was lambasted by humanitarian organisations and criticised by the Vatican as well as President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, who said immigrants were being denied their human right to seek protection.

Although the Maltese government welcomed Italy's move, Dr Mifsud Bonnici expressed caution yesterday.

"The Italians managed to send a message that they will not be co-operating with criminal organisations... and the Vatican might not have all the facts in hand."

Under Dr Mifsud Bonnici's proposal, Africans seeking protection as well as economic migrants would have the right to make a formal application at a base in Libya manned by the UNHCR, Libyan officials and the EU.

All those eligible for protection would have the right to be transferred to EU countries, according to the each member state's refugee quota. The EU's proposed new 'blue card' scheme to attract skilled migrants should be readjusted so as to enable economic refugees resettle in EU states which need particular skills.

Due the EU's Dublin Regulation, refugees who land in Malta do not have the right to apply for the same status in another EU state.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said: "Malta and Italy need to convince the EU to help Libya. We can't keep saying Libya doesn't want to play a part. I will not accept statements that demonise Libya."

The minister praised the increasing co-operation between Libya and Italy, saying it proved that the north African country was showing goodwill.

He said Libya was no longer associated with the pariah state tag it once had, especially now that Muammar Gaddafi headed the African Union.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici urged humanitarian organisations to realise that criminals were benefitting from the desperation of asylum seekers. It was therefore in the interest of groups like the UNHCR to support safer systems of asylum rather than forcing immigrants to take the treacherous journey in open sea.

"NGOs simply cannot strike off any potential deal with Libya... the UNHCR needs to pull its socks up as well," the minister said.

Libya has not signed the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, and does not have a functioning national asylum system. The UNHCR has a liaison office in Libya, but no permanent representation.

When contacted yesterday, UNHCR's spokesman in Rome Laura Boldrini said she hoped Italy's latest move was not "contagious", and that Malta would not follow suit.

The UNHCR was informed that the immigrants returned by Italy, including three pregnant women, were offloaded at a peer and sent to detention centres. Their condition is unknown.

She said some 80 per cent of immigrants landing in Malta needed some sort of protection - and therefore caution was essential.

Asked about the Maltese government's proposal to create a checkpoint in Libya to establish those who really needed protection, Ms Boldrini said the UNHCR was always open to suggestions to find the best solutions.

"We increased our co-operation in Libya but we still have work to do. We need more access to detention centres and more capacity on the ground," she said.

hgrech@timesofmalta.com