Libya sanctions: claims that Malta, Italy are only objectors denied
Malta this evening denied reports in Brussels that it and Italy are the only two countries objecting to the imposition of sanctions against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
AFP news agency reported this evening that European nations are discussing sanctions against the Libyan leader but have run against objections from some EU states, notably Italy and Malta.
Several European Union countries, notably Germany and Finland, called for sanctions against Gaddafi at talks in Brussels between foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc, AFP quoted diplomats as saying.
But a spokesman for the Maltese foreign ministry denied the report.
"Twenty-five countries are objecting and only two are in favour of sanctions," the spokesman said.
"We are calling on the Libyan authorities to stop the violence against their own people," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters at a joint press conference with Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou.
"If the violence does not stop ... we will consider sanctions.Muammar Gaddafi's speech today was very scary as he has declared war on his own people," she added.
During his speech on Libyan television, Gaddafi vowed to hunt opponents of his regime, purging them "house by house" and "inch by inch".
One proposal on the table was a travel ban and assets freeze against the Libyan leader and his inner circle, said an EU diplomat who asked to remain anonymous.
"If Gaddafi keeps killing people the way he has it's a necessity to do something," he said. "Sanctions must be discussed in this situation, otherwise it would be contrary to European policies."
Another option would be to suspend negotiations between Libya and the EU that began in 2008 to agree a first-ever special two-way partnership.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in Berlin that "if Libya continues with violence against its own people, sanctions will become unavoidable".
But diplomats told AFP that Italy and Malta objected, with Cyprus too apparently cautioning against any such move.
Italy, already struggling to cope with an exodus of Tunisian refugees, as well as Malta, are concerned Gaddafi could allow tens of thousands of irregular African migrants currently in Libya to leave for Europe.
Libya, with its 2,000-kilometre shoreline and 4,000 kilometres of land borders with six African nations, plays host to hundreds of thousands of would-be migrants desperate for passage across the Mediterranean to Europe.
Several European nations also have major economic stakes in the North African nation, including French and Italian oil giants Total and ENI.
"Slapping sanctions on Gaddafi might simply reinforce his nationalist stand (and) give the impression that the democratic movement in his country is coordinated overseas," said a diplomat who asked not to be identified.
The priority is to evacuate European nationals, said another source.
Earlier today several European nations, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, announced the dispatch of military plans to repatriate their citizens.
Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere said "the hour is not right for flexing muscles.
"If the situation deteriorates there will be time to draw the proper conclusions."
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d cini
Feb 24th 2011, 21:27
sanctions are ineffective against any totalitarian regime! it has the following effects
1. sanctions bring poverty and misery to the whole population
2. sanctions do not discriminate between the good and the bad elements
3. sanctions actually strengthen the power of the regime
4. the regime can redirect the people's frustrations onto the sanctioning countries
5. and i am sure there are more!!
hence sanctions do not enhance the cause of democracy
Victor Vella
Feb 24th 2011, 15:31
It`s better for Angela Merkel to shut up as she is the least person she can talk about violence and attorocities. It is better not to reverse the clock back to WW2.
j grech
Feb 24th 2011, 14:18
totally unfair statement against MALTA and ITALY the UK also is not in favour of sanctions along with other EU countrys,things seem to be going slow in rescuing foreign nationals but muscles also cannot be flexed at the moment while MALTESE,and BRITISH nationals along with many other nationals remain in libya and possibly facing death,
A Vella
Feb 23rd 2011, 18:22
What makes you think that the government is supporting Ghaddafi? Actually by objecting to these sanctions he is putting Malta's national interest before the Libyan demonstrators which I believe is the best thing OUR government can do... Can you even imagine what will happen when Ghaddafi falls from power and the treaty of immigration with Berlusconi becomes null? Imbaghad nohorgu neqirdu li qed nimtlew bil-klandestini... Look at what happened to our neighbour Italy when Ben ali resigned, and we're talking about Tunisia here, not the "Door of the immigrants", Libya. These protests are a good thing for Libyans who want freedom and democracy, but I'm afraid it's different for Malta and Italy, which have to face the flow of immigration which most probably will follow.
M. Farrugia
Feb 23rd 2011, 16:44
@Sandra Pullicino, I do not want to deviate from the subject but I am sure that witout Europe we are not going to solve the problem for sure. The situation will remain the same. Do you think that illegal migration will come to a halt if we are not eu members, still we have to solve this problem. Italy is also an eu membe and illegal migrants are finding refuge by the thousands there. Please do not mix up things. I think that Malta and Italy did weel to resist the others, and now they are being supported to present a package to the eu with more southern european countries. If you are so determine about european colonialism why don't you start a revolt you have mentio0ned. In my opinion now both the two big political parties accepted the decision and will of the Maltese, infact they both have MEPs, with the labour party having more than the PN. If not stands alone when international problems crops up we will finish up like other countries such as iceland.
Bill Khan
Feb 23rd 2011, 16:34
@Mr. Thomas Mattocks, the SAS, the CIA and the Mossad would already be working full steam in Libya to oust the colonel using various tools of the trade at their disposal.
It will be easier fr the powers to eal with a handfl subevient people in the govenment than one obstinate one in the form of Ghaddafi. Toppling regims is nothing new to the colonial powers. Various ingenious methods continue to be used to again get in to Libya they lost in 1969.
So far all we hear is so many hundreds of people have been killed but there is no substantial proof of any of that. We see scatchy pictures of people but neve their location or who they .
We live in a fast move world. Give a dog a bad name an then kill it.
Carmel Cilia
Feb 23rd 2011, 15:32
@ C. Cassar What a cheek ; what unfortunate past? Our prime minister was seen hugging Gaddafi only last week. If Iam not mistaken powerful Nationalistsi ndividuals have huge interest s in Libya> Malta today has large investment in Libya and this is good in itself. What irritates me and people my kind are the irrisponsible comments made by blue eyed virgins who still find guilt in past labour associations with the Libyan government and this when the newly elected Mintoff of the 1971 was given cash by Gaddafi to pay the salaries of the civil service.
What a cheek and you seem to hold God's own hand in re writing maltese history. Ipokriti.
Andrew Paris
Feb 23rd 2011, 15:04
Any Governement who supports a Tyrant Government cannot be far from acting like the Tyrant themselfs.
Malta should have no dealing with Libya especially after Gaddafi's past with us and the people he has killed.
Claude Lacoste
Feb 23rd 2011, 14:31
Last news, from french TV
Paris, 14H17 Nicolas Sarkozy is announcing financial and economical sanctions against Libya.
UE : an exodus of 10 000 Libyan and european persons in the following hours
Tobrouk is free.
Albert Spiteri
Feb 23rd 2011, 12:29
Does anyone care say who the rioting demonstrators in Libya are? Are they Arabs, Berbers, Bedouins or Immigrants?
Fact 1: In Libya there are over 1.5 million immigrants, most of whom from Egypt and other African countries. There are also quite a number from Europe too.
Fact 2: Berber and Bedouins tribes form well over 50% of the Libyan population.
Fact 3: Most of the Libyan oil wells are situated south of Benghazi, an area dominated by Egyptian Arabs and immigrants who found it convenient and financially super leaving their hovel homes and settling in Libya, earning million of US$ over the years they've been living in Libya.
I make these points because I cannot find it in me to trust BBC, CNN and RAI spin. We in Malta have direct experience, going back 7 or 8 decades, of what this international media gang can invent, create and concoct. They enjoy little (close to nil) credibility amongst the sane and honest anywhere on earth!
TV news in Malta showed demonstrators in front of the Libyan embassy. If these were Libyans, they cannot be refugees, and if they were refugees they cannot be Libyans. WHAT STATUS DO THEY HAVE IN MALTA
Alastair Ives
Feb 23rd 2011, 22:28
There are Africans in Europe who aren't refugees, you know. I imagine the Libyans at the embassy have varied status, from 2nd+ generation Libyan Maltese, work/study visas and even tourists.
fred fellon
Feb 23rd 2011, 11:51
Sanctions don't work. A coalition of the willing should be formed to go to Libya remove the Gaddafis from power and restore order.
A. Falzon
Feb 23rd 2011, 11:23
If Mr. Gaddafi lost power who will run the country?? Are we to have another Islamist state like Iran? .............. Think
Bill Khan
Feb 23rd 2011, 13:24
Don't worry MR. Falzon, when Ghaddafi goes the US, UK, France and Italy will run the country having full control of one of the largest oil reserves and good quality crude. That's what is going on in Libya right now. To remove Ghadafi and take control. He had nationalised all foreign companies when he took over. Now this is the pay back time for him. The US /UK agencies must be pretty busy in toppling him but at the same time appearing as if they are with him. We get patcy Tv pictures not knowing where exactly these are shot and how long ago these were shot and whether in libya at all. We liv ein an age of digital deception.
Andrew Agius
Feb 23rd 2011, 10:47
The people calling for neutrality are nothing more than greedy cowards!
malta has received help from other nations lots of times - and will need it again.
Stop worrying about your petty racism, your bank balance and your own backyard and try acting like civilised grown-ups.
If you bury your head in the sand long enough someone will come along and kick you in the backside!
Thomas Mattocks
Feb 23rd 2011, 10:42
I agree sanctions will not work with Gadaffi, what will work is the SAS or Mossad going in and exterminating the Gadaffi Clan, never mind what monetary Interests the likes of Italy,France Malta and others may have, what about the citizens being masacered by him and his sons.
Albert Spiteri
Feb 23rd 2011, 12:33
@ Thomas Mattocks - Stupid, ignorant, presumptious and arrogant make a heavy cocktail my friend!!
Jon Agius
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:44
France sent Roma people back to their home. Merkel came out lately saying that multi-culturalism is not working. If they don't help us, send them to France and Germany. Italy and Malta are being forgotten by the EU.
Robert Agius
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:16
..and when have sanctions helped THE PEOPLE!!!!!!
C. Farrugia
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:14
Had sanctions been brought against China after the Tiananmen Square massacre of Chinese anti government protesters in 1989? Did western countries freeze the assets of Chinese leaders? Had sanctions been brought against the USSR after the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Or is it always the same in international diplomacy. Strong with the small and weak with the big.
Peter Zarb
Feb 23rd 2011, 08:33
Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.
George Azzopardi
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:50
.. well said. We must be very cautious at his grave hour. First priority must be to move all Maltese out of there plus avoid at all costs any actions which might cause exodus from there..
Simon Caruana
Feb 23rd 2011, 08:06
Sanctions??? Should the EU think of ways of helping the population instead of washing their hands off as usual. Might as well propose a minute of silence! Actually the EU has been silent for a quite a while until the issue of refugees came up!
VDebattista
Feb 23rd 2011, 08:05
Maybe if other countries were 1 hour away from Libya they might be doing the same thing!!!!!!!!
Andrew Cachia
Feb 23rd 2011, 08:02
Absolutely right, well don to the Maltese and Italian governments
J Farrugia
Feb 23rd 2011, 07:50
Sanctions dont work. If Germany has no interests in Libya she can well send her first armoured brigade to stop Gadaffi from killing his conationals and not play for the gallery by imposing "sanctions". Sanctions hurt the people not the regime. So stop fooling around with niceties. In all the years of sanctions against Libya the regime still played on. Send some fighters to destroy those fighters which are massacring the libyan people. Not sanctions. And btw, all countries go after their own interests and Germany and France and Norway go after their own interests. So also Malta and Italy who are at the front line HAVE THEIR OWN INTERESTS AT HEART. Is this the EU solidairty in practice? to hell with it.
Jesmond Farrugia
Feb 23rd 2011, 01:14
It is still too early to talk of economic sanctions, which, we needn't remind ourselves have not been terribly successful at alleviating suffering under absolutist tyrannical regimes (Iraq, Libya, North Korea). Continued engagement / assistance could and should be facilitated to ensure firstly that the humanitarian crisis and secondly, global economic aftershocks are minimised. Having said that Ms. Merkel is right to suggest that economic sanctions are on the way, should Col. Ghaddafi's regime resist pressure for an international investigation.
Peter Xuereb
Feb 23rd 2011, 00:56
@ M.Farrugia and D Zahra
The days of Maltese neutrality have long ended and the final nail in the coffin was our joining of the EU. It is good to see that the Germans that have "little connections are are far away" are concerned about something that concerns members of the EU. Let us not be hypocrites and naive, when just a number of months ago us Maltese begged for the Germans to assist us with illegal immigration.
And I do hope that the whole of the EU takes a though stand on Libya. It would be a political disaster and a clear sign weakness for EU if it let Libya do such actions without any consequences. And it would make me be ashamed to be Maltese if the Maltese government gone on with it's usual stance of maintaining ties with Libya for the sake of business, instead of standing up for the legitimate demands of the Libyan people and take a stand against the clear violations of the Libyan government and their very undemocratic methods.
In the end, sic semper tyrannis,
Victor Cuschieri
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:17
Peter Xuereb NO Xuereb, neutrality has not ended. That was promised to be respected prior to the referendum and we shall fight with anything we have against the EU and anyone who tries to do away with it.
The hypocrisy of the EU, USA and other north European countries is that they are not the least affected with sanctions which only increase the sufferings of the people. They sell their arms and help dictators in every country as long as those dictators can be manipulated to serve their ends.
http://euobserver.com/9/31853
Libya replete with EU arms as Gaddafi massacres protesters
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - As dead bodies pile up on the streets of Tripoli and blocked phone lines hamper the EU evacuation effort, the latest EU figures show that EU countries just two years ago granted over €160 million of export licences to Libya for small arms and electronic jamming kit.
The Union's latest report on arms exports, out in January and covering 2009, says that EU countries granted €687.6 million worth of Libya licences just two years before the massacre. Figures for actual shipments are incomplete.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2011:009:0001:0417:EN:PDF
GO READ XUEREB. TOTAL EU COUNTRIES HYPOCRISY.
Malicia Dabrowicz
Feb 23rd 2011, 00:52
My friends from Libya want me to pass a comment: Maltese government blocking the sanctions makes them sick. There will be genocide in Libya. Is this what Maltese people want?
I want to add something from myself. I am disgusted at hypocrisy that MY country is showing. The stupid comments, the silence, blocking of sanctions. Mr Gozni, you want to be on the same level as Italian PM who sleeps around with teenage girls and shakes hands with tyrants? This is what You and PN account for? I HAVE been calling for a week now to condemn, to call on Libyan authorities to show restraint. They ARE our neighbours and WE are now gonna have genocide of people, of our neighbours at our borders. The same goes for PL as opposition. WE are a small country but nothing, I repeat nothing justifies what we are doing. Truly, dark night of my soul....
D. Xerri
Feb 23rd 2011, 00:50
Hundreds of people are being Massacred by the Tyranny of the Gheddafi Regime !! This man and his sons are just POWER-HUNGRY - They are killing their own people using foreign mercenaries armed and paid to kill Libyans !! This is a crime against Humanity itself - A Genocide is happenning in front of our eyes - The EU and the US have to move NOW before its too late - Stop thinking about Gheddafi`s oil and our ties with Libya as a country and PLEASE START Thinking about the Thousands that will be slaughtered and shot by Gheddafi`s forces and mercenaries ! Gheddafi is only interested in protecting his wealth stolen from the Libyan people through 40 years of oppresion - Just power hungry to stay glued to his seat of power along with his sons at the cost of killing hundreds if not thousands of Libyans !!
Peter Grima
Feb 23rd 2011, 00:33
Before imposing sanctions, lets look at the consequences and how will Europe help tiny, poor Malta to over come the impact of the sanctions.
Pamela Hansen
Feb 22nd 2011, 23:05
I feel nothing but shame on our country's stand on Libya.
Michael Seychell
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:51
Pamela - if you believe what you stated, you should have added the United Nations, US and all major countries, because up to yesterday Malta had done what all the democratic world did - that is condemn the killing of the Libyan civilians and hoping that the country - Libya - will not split ,more so if the East wewre to fall in the hands of fundamental muslims.
With regards to the EU propopsal to introduce sanctions against the Libyan Government, both Malta and Italy denied that they have objected to the introduction of sanctions - we wait and see whether this is true or not before condemning our own - Malta's - government.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
Evarist Saliba
Feb 23rd 2011, 11:03
Do you know what is Malta's policy, or do you just lap up any adverse comment that emanates from a foreign source?
The Maltese government, and indeed the Maltese nation, has an uphill fight to counter incorrect, if not downright prejudiced reports, by strong foreign media. I appeal to the Maltese authorities to be vigilant, and to remain credible, in refuting false reports. Let us not be a party to such reports, from supposedly reliable sources, that Ghaddafi is on his way to Venezuela.
At this stage, let there be no equivocation. The first duty of the Maltese government is not to endager the lives of Maltese nationals, in Libya, and in Malta itself. Then, as a member, it should contribute actively to the formulation of the EU policy in defence of the Libyan people, and not to follow sheeepishly what any other EU member may have to say.
C. Vella
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:52
The bureaucrats and diplomats will bicker and in the mean time Ghaddafi has already began taking hold of the helm of the country once again. By the time they will stop bickering it would be time to do business with him again.
Have we not forgotten tiananmen square. They all condemned it but now they wine and dine with the enemy.
S. J. Grech
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:51
Sanctions are useless and if implemented they cause hardship to the people and not to the regime's elite ! The EU must stop the massacre of civilians asap before it's too late and the spiral of violence continues to escalate. Why not attacking the airfields / airplanes that are being used by the regime to massacre these innocent people fighting for their country’s freedom?
CZARB
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:47
If Germany truly believe in solidarity then it should commit itself to accept its fair share of North African immigrants. We're sick of being left alone in front of a tragic problem that everyone likes to speak about but very few care to help.
http://www.ilgiornale.it/esteri/italia_e_allarme_rifugiati_lue_se_ne_lava_mani_non_saranno_distribuiti/politica-libia-gheddafi-proteste-rifugiati-profughi-italia-onu-europa-aiuti/22-02-2011/articolo-id=507662-page=0-comments=1#1
C A Camilleri
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:22
@ D Zahra. "Life without passion would be a dull wasteland of neutrality, cut off and isolated from the richness of life itself." - Daniel Goleman.
There is no turning back now, its time for the cockroach to be terminated.
Keith Camilleri
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:15
Of course, all the other European countries aren't 350 miles away from libya!! further to this Malta does not have a military to defend ourselves. Even worse is that we have no trust in our beloved EU in helping us out if something happens to Malta. After letting thousands of illegal immigrants to come into our country, taking 20 of the them to france and another 30 to holland doesn't leave much trust in this farce of a Union
Wallace Cassar
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:22
Keith Camilleri the Italian media is reporting that the Italian politicians are saying that if Italy comes under the expected invasion by North African immigrants they shall be given a one-way ticket to Germany and the Northern EU members. The Northern mainland EU members only want others to take action and keep illegal immigrants and sometimes they just take a few as a token. Simply parole, parole, parole. So we should look after our own interests and to hell with what the EU decides.
Stephen Florian
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:11
IT LOOKS LIKE GHADDAFI HAS VERY LITTLE TIME LEFT, SOON IT WILL BE OVER.
Charles Sammut
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:10
"Italy, already struggling to cope with an exodus of Tunisian refugees, as well as Malta, are concerned Gaddafi could allow tens of thousands of irregular African migrants currently in Libya to leave for Europe."
I think that Gaddafi has found a use for the illegal African immigrants currently in Libya. He's paying them to shoot up protesters.
Warning graphic images.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s91AvXP2XQ&skipcontrinter=1
M.Farrugia
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:56
Mrs.Angela Merkel, it seems that she jumped to early conclusions to order sanctions against the Libyan regime because of violence, ect. and Germany has little connections and is far away from Libya. Italy and Malta object to this because they are not finding any co-operation from the Big brothers of Europe with the problems they will have to face.
C Cassar
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:10
Malta is an EU member and should support their EU colleagues not anyone in North Africa.
Malta's future is the EU and that economic zone containing 450 million affluent citizens where there is far more business for Malta, has higher living standards than any North African culture and is closer in religious culture and history.
Malta needs to move on from it's unfortunate past and links with dictatorships such as Libya. Malta's funding comes from the EU, not Africa..
ray sacco
Feb 23rd 2011, 07:17
will germany help when libyan refugees start reaching our shores?
c.camilleri
Feb 23rd 2011, 07:51
@ M.Farrugia.
I agree with you, Malta and Italy are to be conscious about the actions to be taken against Libya which is very near to us both as we will be more effected in the economic levels than the other countries which are very far away. I also ask, where is Malta's Neutrality which makes a ot of sense to us being an island in the Meditterranean sea.
Sandra Pullicino
Feb 23rd 2011, 09:28
C Cassar Malta's future is OUT of the EU and we shall do it whatever you and other foreigners lackeys and the EU do or try to do even if we have to revolt like the people are doing in Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain and other countries. We want our dear Malta and ourselves and our children to be free from the EU colonialism. Our forefathers did it and we shall do it again. Gwaj ghalih min jipprova jwaqqaf lill-poplu Malti milli jerga' jiehu l-helsien tieghu mill-kolonjalizmu tal-UE u l-laghaqa servili taghhom.
D Zahra
Feb 22nd 2011, 21:54
Tigini mohhi fil-kelma "NEWTRALITA"!
Denis Pace
Feb 22nd 2011, 22:25
kelma vojta
Wilfred L Camilleri
Feb 22nd 2011, 23:16
Neutrality does not exist in this day and age. With globalization this concept is relegated to the history books.
E. Curmi
Feb 22nd 2011, 23:21
Neutrality or indifference? Whichever is convenient, I guess
A tragedy is happening almost on our doorstep but for heavens sake we do not want to be involved...Is this all we are concerned about? ... our rights and to hell with the rest, to say nothing about passing the buck around.
We want to play with the bigs boys but at the first sign of trouble we turn tail and flee for home.
joe camilleri
Feb 23rd 2011, 07:07
We form part of the E.U. and cannot continue smilling & kissing Gaddafi s cheek and pretend to belong to the Non Aligned Organisation just to keep this Tyrant Happy ! He called the Libyan People RATS ! How can we continue to kiss his cheek & his feet when this Tyrant does not respect his brothers and sisters in Libya. No wonder my Maltese relatives& thier families living in Libya for many years had to escape from Libya in the late eigthties on the pretence of Medical intervention in Malta leaving all thier personal belongings & homes, I have personally tried several times to convince them to accompany me there for a short visit but they always refused to set foot again in that country.
m vella
Feb 23rd 2011, 07:50
Neutrality does not exist in times of trouble and war,good day.
Evan Camilleri
Feb 23rd 2011, 08:50
Newtralita?! Qatt ma tista tkun newtrali f' kas bhal dan!
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