Borg in talks with Italian foreign minister tomorrow

E Gatt

Apr 11th 2011, 16:20

Gaddafi is a dictator who will hopefully soon be forced down. Admittedly however, the agreement that he entered into with Italy was effective in reducing the number of crossings to Europe. It was a clear message to illegal immigrants not to risk their lives attempting to enter the EU illegally. It also discouraged the human traffickers from carrying out their mercenary ‘business’. Fewer crossings = fewer deaths at sea. Italy and France have now agreed to have a similar agreement with the Tunisian authorities and Malta must now reassess the situation and take a common stand with our partners. Malta must also insist on the value of human life, and that anyone who is in distress at sea must be saved.

H.Calleja

Apr 11th 2011, 15:53

Whilst vividly supporting the Maltese Government's effort to convince the rest of Europe that Malta is experiencing the worst situation in this African exodus as it is the smallest nation among the 27 member states and is most vulnerable because of the vicinity with the African continent, the Italians should stop once and for all acting the bully against Malta. Ministers Borg and Mifsud Bonnici should have the support of all of us in exclaiming readiness to clamp down on Italian statements against our Island. Is this the solidarity they profess or is this another other example of selfishness and superiority complex against a much smaller nation? Burlusconi and Maroni have a different attitude with Sarkosy as the French President does not stand any nonsense. Malta should not be bullied by bigger states as it has the same status and rights as all the rest of European partners!

Joseph V. Grech

Apr 11th 2011, 15:52

How sad that Malta and Italy quarrel like enemies as a result of this unacceptable illegal immigration problem! Meanwhile Europeans continue to be negatively affected! How unfair, undemocratic and SILLY - that it was just Ms. Cecilia Malmstrom, the E.U. Commissioner for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, who ''invented'' the E.U.s policy in relation to her portfolio, including strategies connected with illegal immigration! On 7.1.2010 Ms. Malmstrom answered questions by MEPs prior to her appointment. See http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/archive/malmstrom_replies_en.pdf Unbelievably Malmstrom had concluded: ''FINALLY WE SHALL SET UP A SINGLE ASYLUM PROCEDURE AND A UNIFORM STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION. HERE EUROPE WILL ASSERT ITS COMMON VALUES. MY FOCUS WILL BE ON PROMPT ADOPTION BY THE CO-LEGISLATORS OF THE REMAINING PROPOSALS OF THE COMMON EUROPEAN ASYLUM SYSTEM AND ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION. THE GUIDING WORDS HERE WILL BE SOLIDARITY AND BURDEN SHARING.'' The top E.U. management team should NOT have pinned Europe's internal policies to the impractical ideas put forward by just one person, which ideas have failed miserably. Solidarity and Burden Sharing - how can you obtain these when the numbers of asylum / refugee seekers is mind-bogling? Malmstrom RESIGN.

Dr Francis Saliba

Apr 11th 2011, 15:50

Honourable Minister Tonio Borg, Please obtain from your Italian counterpart an assurance that the outlandish provocations of individual minor parochial politicians are not a true reflection of the official Italian government towards Malta in these difficult times when we should be pulling together on the same rope not slandering each other!

S Farrugia

Apr 11th 2011, 15:46

Keep all patrol boats in Port and let the Italians do their job to save the irresponsible illegal immigrants.

G Gatt

Apr 11th 2011, 15:45

Drop the undersea cable and invest in green energy and further extensions to our power station and also demand payment for the gas pipeline that is passing through our territorial waters. Give the klandestini food water and fuel and send them on their way.

K Frendo

Apr 11th 2011, 15:43

Meanwhile, there were violent protests in Lampedusa this morning as Italy started repatriating migrants back to Tunisia, from where they had come, rather than taking them to mainland Italy.

Such arrogance has to be seen to be believed. How do they think that they have any right to go to another country that does not want them?

F Mallia

Apr 11th 2011, 15:41

Frattini is succeeding to do what he said wanted. Make Malta an illegal immigrants open centre. Rise up people and defend yourselves, your children and our country from the mass invasion of illegal immigrants.

a.grech

Apr 11th 2011, 15:20

An example to be followed by our Government.

joe vella

Apr 11th 2011, 15:17

U mela mmorru nghidu li ghadna postijiet battala fil kampijiet li ma konniex bhahan! hemm ara "shabna" qed jibghatuhom lura, issa qalu full up u daqshekk, ta gewwa, gewwa, ta barra - barra kapaci naghmlu l-istess ahna!