Update 2: PM in talks with Berlusconi
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi shows a book about Malta given to him by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi after their meeting this morning.
Malta and Italy will be pushing for the principle remit of Frontex operations to be the repatriation of illegal immigrants to their country of origin, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said this evening.
He was addressing a news conference at the airport following talks in Italy. The conference was also addressed by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
Dr Gonzi, who had a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said that even if it seemed that illegal immigration had stopped, it was still a major issue for both countries and they would continue to push for it to become an EU matter.
Dr Borg said that Malta's position about the Frontex operations in the Mediterranean remained that it would not take part as long as rules laid down that rescued migrants were to be taken to the country hosting the operation.
He said that even the Italians were a bit sceptical of the operations since they did not want to upset the balance created by their agreement with Libya and that was working to the effect that illegal immigration from Libya had almost zeroed.
The Italians, the minister said, did not want to do anything that would jeopardise this agreement.
Dr Gonzi said that today's meetings reaffirmed the strong relationship between Malta and Italy. The possibility of a visit to Malta by Mr Berlusconi was also discussed.
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malcolm seychell
Jul 8th 2010, 19:19
@ kenneth zammit tabone
That link is useless. We know that amnesty international is an agency in favour of illegal immigration.
I am sure most of the Maltese citizens appreciate what berlusconi and his partners did on illegal immigration.
During summer you can sing this song before you go to sleep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXf-YbsSh0Y
Thank you cavalieri for keeping our island in a better shape then it was till a few months ago.
Excuse us, but every nation has some extreme left wingers and communist who put human rights before the safety on a whole nation.
Sean Grima
Jul 9th 2010, 12:23
they balance out the extremist right wingers who try to undermine the noble work carried out by NGOs.
l.Farrugia
Jul 8th 2010, 19:02
Jesmond Abela kiteb Mr Dingli if our PM Dr Gonzi needs to learn.... I just imagine what Dr JM needs to do. Facli li ghandu jaghmel huwa li jibda jerga jattendi il-kinder schools u jekk ikun hemm bzonn jibqa repeater kif kien issuggerixxa Varist Bartolo
colin stanley
Jul 8th 2010, 18:31
This is what I like to hear, our PM. sticking to what he says (frontex for example) do not give in dear PM. and yes also thank you . prime minister Berlusconi, for trying to send them back.
Sean Grima
Jul 9th 2010, 12:24
yes, perhaps we will get sued like italy has been sued, for violating these people's rights!
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Jul 8th 2010, 17:45
http://euobserver.com/22/30349
This is the cost, in purely human terms, of that mindboggling 'baci le mani' episode between the Cavaliere and the Colonel
Joseph Cauchi
Jul 8th 2010, 19:21
Quoting Amnesty International of all people!
Get real, please.
JC.
Sean Grima
Jul 9th 2010, 12:25
should we quote the CNI instead?
M. Azzopardi
Jul 8th 2010, 17:02
The best two European Prime Ministers!
Noel Abela
Jul 8th 2010, 16:02
If you think that this event was of any relevance in Italy or that it gained any media spotlight think again. No mention of it in the websites of either La Repubblica or il Corriere...anyway Berlusconi has much more important and urgent things that need to be handled...for him meeting someone from Malta served as a nice break from the usual political bickering.
Tereza Farrugia
Jul 8th 2010, 17:04
what a shallow comment u x'insult ghal pajjizna .. bhallikieku dan il-pajjiz ghandu xi haga nieqsa u inferjuri biex jiltaqa' ma pajjiz iehor!
What worries me is the solutions that are being taken, if any, to keep the immigrants from leaving libya...what is exactly happening??
Jack Sparrow
Jul 8th 2010, 19:11
In-nies mhux inferjuri, imma l-pajjiz iva. Just open a map of Europe and you have your answer.
lgalea
Jul 8th 2010, 21:46
Tereza Farrugia ANY solution to prevent them from leaving Libya is welcome.
Sean Grima
Jul 9th 2010, 12:20
of course, who cares about the human rights of africans?!
Denis Catania
Jul 8th 2010, 15:36
Malta and Italy needs to stick together on the illegal immigration issue. We need to stomp out illegal immigration in Malta.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=73969345883
Sean Grima
Jul 9th 2010, 12:27
there is very little 'illegal' immigration here. and, of course, you cannot stomp out asylum seekers - maltese law, rightly, protects them
David Caruana
Jul 8th 2010, 15:17
They're both turning their countries in a Catholic Taliban stronghold:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/7868442/Kissing-in-cars-feeding-stray-cats-and-building-sandcastles-all-banned-in-Italy.html
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100628/local/play
s.koludrovic
Jul 8th 2010, 14:17
People might try to take the mick out of the Cavaliere, however he has kept the country running without have resign his goverment every 6 months, like what the other parties did before him.
John Inguanez
Jul 8th 2010, 14:01
Louis Gialanze(10 minutes ago)
It looks like the people who wrote off the Cavaliere this time last year now have to eat humble pie!. Silvio Berlusconi is the real saviour of Malta and where it not for him we in Malta would have been inundated with illegal immigrants by this time of the year. Grazie mille Cavaliere
Grazie milli Cavaliere should be said when Italy reaches agreement on Malta on the division of the sea between Malta ans Sicily for oil exploration. They don't want because they know that there is oil on the Malta part.
Louis Gialanze
Jul 8th 2010, 13:49
It looks like the people who wrote off the Cavaliere this time last year now have to eat humble pie!. Silvio Berlusconi is the real saviour of Malta and where it not for him we in Malta would have been inundated with illegal immigrants by this time of the year. Grazie mille Cavaliere.
Sean Grima
Jul 9th 2010, 12:26
i wonder what you will be commenting when malta gets sued for breaching migrants' human rights, like italy has been!
beppe pisani
Jul 8th 2010, 12:47
at the moment protesters are gathering in rome heavily protesting against berlusconi's gov for not adhering to his many promises including the reconstructing of devastated areas from last year earthquake.................................................................................................................... birds of the same feathers flock together !!
Kenneth Zammit Tabona
Jul 8th 2010, 12:43
Is this the price to be paid to keep illegal immigrants legally detained somewhere in Libya?
http://zamaanonline.com/vid-italian-prime-minister-kisses-gaddafis-hand-facial-expression-from-gaddafi-3537
Simply mindboggling?
Would Lawrence Gonzi have to do the same?
Charles Sammut
Jul 8th 2010, 13:07
That's no gaffe. And even if it were, who cares, it is a small price to pay for a nation's future.
Sean Grima
Jul 8th 2010, 13:23
we should not be seeking to deny immigrants their right to apply for asylum.
lgalea
Jul 8th 2010, 21:44
Sean Grima they should claim their rights in African countries NOT in tiny Malta.
Sean Grima
Jul 9th 2010, 12:19
they are claiming their rights in accordance with MALTESE law
Karl Consiglio
Jul 8th 2010, 12:29
All we ever see is pictures of them waving at each other, or shaking each others hand, and giving each other that usual look. No transparency as such, we never hear the conversations, just have to take the media's word for it.
Jack Sparrow
Jul 8th 2010, 12:28
Maybe they should also discuss Berlusconi's recent divorce...
lgalea
Jul 8th 2010, 12:18
Let's hope he learns how to push the illegal immigrants boats back to Libya.
Sean Grima
Jul 8th 2010, 13:22
he doesn't need to got to rome for that, the CNI's offices are closer.
Marcel Dingli
Jul 8th 2010, 11:57
Go and learn, Gonz !
A. Zahra
Jul 8th 2010, 12:43
No, it is Berlusconi who is learning. Dr. Gonzi will be telling him how he increased employment, dropped unemployment, increased exports, diminished the deficit and escaped having to introduce a severe austerity package as Italy, Britain, France and mighty Germany are having to endure. Yes, Berlusconi has much to learn from our Gonzi as has young Muscat.
Marcel Dingli
Jul 8th 2010, 12:59
A Zahra, should we laugh ?
Daniel Hatto
Jul 8th 2010, 14:28
@ A Zahra, HAHAHA! joke of the MILLENIUM
Jesmond Abela
Jul 8th 2010, 15:46
Mr Dingli if our PM Dr Gonzi needs to learn.... I just imagine what Dr JM needs to do.
Marcel Dingli
Jul 8th 2010, 17:29
Jesmond Abela imma kif dejjem tridu zzeffnu fin nofs lil JM u l lejber ? Mhemmx x taghzel bejn gdur u kabocci !