Tonio Borg defends Malta’s ‘cautious’ approach to Libya

Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg yesterday defended Malta’s “cautious” approach to the Libyan crisis, saying it was “not a sign of weakness but prudence”.

Speaking at a foreign affairs parliamentary committee yesterday, Dr Borg said Malta would apply sanctions placed on Libya by the UN Security Council even though he was hesitant since some 6,000 EU citizens were still in Libya.

Dr Borg reiterated Malta’s position, that the first priority was to preserve the well-being of its nationals and help them evacuate the troubled country. He stressed that Malta had to work in its national interest, a point the opposition spokesman George Vella strongly agreed with.

However, Malta had a moral obligation to be at the centre of evacuations of foreigners escaping Libya, Dr Borg said.

Regarding immigration, Dr Borg pointed out that he was primarily concerned by the fact that the lack of public order could make it easier for thousands of people who had been longing to flee Libya make the treacherous journey.

Malta was insisting any influx should be an EU issue, not just something to be dealt with by the peripheral countries like Malta and Italy.

Responding to some criticism in the press, he said the Maltese embassy in Libya had done everything it could “under the circumstances” to help its nationals flee the country, despite very difficult working conditions.

He added there was a very real “vacuum of information” about the situation in Libya, evidenced by the fact that there was no confirmation of the number of dead people.

“We know a minimum of 300 people have died because this is what the Libyan ambassador has confirmed himself during a press conference where I think he acted very correctly in a difficult situation,” Dr Borg said, adding that other reports had claimed up to 10,000 had died.

He also criticised the international media for giving a distorted picture of certain things, such as the reporting about Malta and Italy’s objections to sanctions.

“The issue of sanctions on Monday was only mentioned between the first and second plate of a lunch between ministers,” he said, adding that there had not been any concrete proposals at that stage.

Dr Borg added that Malta was not under any military threat as was being speculated by some people.

Meanwhile, Dr Vella said he held meetings with Dr Borg and was satisfied with the work of the government.

He complained about Maltese people being beaten, injured and treated badly at Tripoli airport where they also had to wait for hours in the rain. He mentioned looting and carjacking, which he said was making life even more difficult for the Maltese.

Malta, he agreed, needed to retain its caution because unlike other countries who could afford to be harsher, Malta enjoyed a particular relationship with Libya due to proximity.

Labour MP Leo Brincat asked why the media did not focus enough on the cooperation between the government and the opposition.

“This shows that despite our differences we can rise to the occasion,” he asserted.

Dr Borg agreed with Mr Brincat and pointed out that the party leaders met in the Prime Minister’s office were the cooperation was organised.

In a statement, Alternattiva Demokratika said it was appalled at the attitude by Dr Borg and Dr Vella about the situation in Libya.

“While concern for the fate of all Maltese and other people in Libya is shared, it is unacceptable that the government and the opposition agree on maintaining good relations ‘with whoever governs Libya’.”