Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici yesterday told the House Social Committee of his continuous contacts with his European and Maghreb counterparts to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.

He said he had been in Tripoli for the 5+5 Defence Western Mediterranean Initiative meeting over the weekend and met his counterparts from Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. Malta had assumed presidency of this body and the minister promised Malta would continue building on the success achieved so far.

The group was formally established in December 2004 by the signing of a declaration of intent by the Defence Ministers of Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia and constitutes the only all-encompassing multilateral forum for defence and security matters for the Western Mediterranean. It aims to encourage dialogue and cooperation among the participating states.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that he and Libyan Interior Minister Obeidi had agreed on the need of a stronger UNHCR presence in Tripoli and the strengthening of Libya's patrolling of its territorial waters, which admittedly were vast. He invited Dr Obeidi to visit Malta in a bid to work out a programme of cooperation between the two countries' law enforcement bodies. These would have bi-annual meetings, have joint training in search and rescue and move forward on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries.

He said that documents he had seen showed that the Libyans were indeed affecting these patrols and had chased a boatful of illegal immigrants back into port.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania were showing more interest in the illegal immigration phenomenon.

Maltese he had met in Tripoli had informed him that word was going around that it was not worthwhile to cross over by boat because one would be sent back.

On Monday he had received a call from Roberto Maroni after a meeting the Italian Interior Minister had in Tripoli. He said it was being proposed that Mr Maroni, himself and EU Commissioner Jacques Barrot visit Tripoli to ensure consolidation of the situation so that the Libyan measures would continue.

German Minister Wolfgang Scheubel had assured Dr Mifsud Bonnici of his country's contribution of a helicopter to curb illegal immigration, and that Germany would take any immigrants saved in Mediterranean waters by German forces. France and Greece were also showing more interest.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that a new route had been noted, taking illegal immigrants from Benghazi to Crete.