Interior Ministers' efforts to curb illegal immigration
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.
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Philip Agius
May 20th 2009, 17:56
A. Camilleri, your comment that CMB had attacked Maroni for taking the immigrants to Libya is laughable, particularly in light of this article: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090508/local/malta-hails-italy-libya-agreement.
The headline reads: MALTA HAILS ITALY-LIBYA AGREEMENT...
LOL!
louise vella
May 20th 2009, 14:56
Dr Mifsud Bonnici should answer some simple questions:
How many illegal immigrants are there exactly in Malta?
What is he doing to send them back to their own country or to some other country?
How much are illegal immigrants costing Malta by way of hospital services, social services, education, maintenance of law and order, protection of national security...?
When can he guarantee that GonziPN will put an end to the influx of illegal immigrants?
albert leone ganado
May 20th 2009, 14:53
Let us hope that Malta seizes the opportunity of its presidency of the 5+5 to be proactive and create initiatives which ease the current illegal immigration flow in the mediterrean basin . These initiatives must combine hard repatriation decisions with finding means to improve the economic well-being and political stability in the country of origin of this diaspora.
This will only be achieved if there is a holistic apporoach to the whole range of problems besetting the med region.
Let us hope that the opportunity will also be taken to get back Libyan and Maltese relations to the same level of friendship and intensity which existed in the eighties and which generated so many jobs for the maltese and benefitted the Libyan economic development in many spheres
Emanuel Cilia debono
May 20th 2009, 14:01
The setting up of a checkpoint in Libya would help to regularise the present uncontrolled flow of clandestine migrants.
In my opinion the post should be run by the E.U.
The UNHCR expects to have a presence . By all means let them have it; but I would hesitate having them run the service alone. That body's principal concern may not be identical to that of E.U, policy makers, including our own!.
Our Minister for Home affairs ( Dr.Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici) deserves a sincere appreciation for his contribution ; and our full support in his continuing efforts to promote humane solutions in the interests of both our own people and the migrants themselves.
lgalea
May 20th 2009, 13:18
"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."
So how about sending all the illegal immigrants that we have in Malta so that the word spreads quickly that they shall be sent back from Malta CMB?
Go on CMB
Don't be a CHICKEN.
A Camilleri
May 20th 2009, 11:33
If by helping Malta Mr Barroso et al means: sending patrol boats and helicopters to help immigrants land in Malta, financing projects to enlarge open centres, providing Malta with human resources to identify possible asylum seekers etc., this is no help at all and in voicing the majority of us Maltese it is not wanted.
This support is only an excuse to keep illegal immigrants away from the EU countries because even these countries do not want them. Mr Barroso’s assertion that the EU needs immigrants is only a lame excuse to support his machinations.
I would rather not employ a ‘holier than thou’ attitude as when Dr Mifsud Bonnici criticized Mr Maroni when Italy returned the immigrants back to Libya. Firm actions like these are what is needed to deter the constant influx of these immigrants. If mere sympathy is shown towards these illegals it would be enough for them to come and benefit from such emotions with the result of making us a safe haven to them.
Muscat.Pat
May 20th 2009, 11:27
The new route from Benghazi to Crete has been noted by HUMAN TRAFFICKERS and not the poor illegal immigrants. UNHCR is an accomplice to this human tragedy. It should not encourage human trafficking on old boats intended for coastal fishing, where instead of 4 people they carry hundreds! The areas form Benghazi to Crete is subject ot Force 9 to 10 maltemi winds in summer. Less people are going to end in Crete and more,alas drowned!
Etienne Bonanno
May 20th 2009, 10:13
So, only 2 boats sent back by Italy and already word is spreading. Just imagine if ALL boats were sent back. The illegal trafficking rings would be broken in a few weeks.
Libya would like a stronger UNHCR presence only because they would have a legitimate way to ship immigrants to Europe. Is it possible that the foreign ministers don't see this?!? We need a Libyan immigration checkpoint, but run by EU staff, NOT UNHCR! Putting the UNHCR in charge would be like appointing the mice to guard the cheese!