Malta thanks asylum resettlement states

Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg yesterday thanked those European governments which pledged to take a number of asylum seekers from Malta under an EU resettlement project.

Addressing a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, Dr Borg said Malta had received about 1,400 immigrants who had fled Libya in a three-month span in the wake of the Arab uprising.

Following a conference held in Brussels by the European Commission, about 10 member states pledged to resettle 323 refugees from Malta under an intra-EU resettlement programme introduced by the Commission for Malta’s specific needs.

Although falling short of expectations, the Commission called the pledges a good first step but urged more member states, particularly the larger ones, to show solidarity with Malta.

Malta yesterday also welcomed an increase of €30 million in new EU humanitarian aid to Libya and the opening of a European Commission office in Benghazi – Libya’s rebel territory.

This office will not substitute the delegation office originally planned for Tripoli, which foreign ministers have agreed to open as soon as the situation returns to normal.

On the recent developments in Libya, Dr Borg said the EU and UN sanctions on Libya had made an impact towards the eventual termination of the conflict.

The EU has been the major financial contributor in the Libyan crisis so far – EU humanitarian aid to date amounts to €125 million, including repatriation flights to assist displaced conflict refugees, Dr Borg said.

He also emphasised that the EU could not fail the needs of the Egyptians and Tunisians.

“Once they elect their democratic representatives, a process through which the EU is assisting in ensuring free and fair elections, the EU would then have to strengthen their economies,” Dr Borg said.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Council yesterday condemned in the strongest terms the unacceptable use of violence against peaceful protesters in Syria.

While stating that those accountable should be held responsible, the EU confirmed its decision to impose further restrictive measures on additional persons, including President Bashar al Assad.