Malta’s long-standing confrontation with Italy, over where to land migrants rescued at sea, should be separated from the debate on the size of its search and rescue area, President George Abela told his Italian counterpart.

We are both exposed and we should not bounce the problem back and forth- Italian President

On a two-day state visit in Italy, Dr Abela yesterday made it a point to drive home government policy that rescued migrants had to be taken to the nearest safe port of call, a spokesman told The Times.

“This is in line with international law,” Dr Abela is reported to have said in separate talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.

He also brushed off Italian suggestions that Malta give up a large portion of its huge search and rescue area.

The issue was raised in the meetings as a point of disagreement between the two countries.

Malta’s search and rescue area covers a vast stretch of sea between Tunisia and Crete, a relic of its colonial past. According to international law, Malta is obliged to coordinate rescue operations in the area but the Italian government has often insisted Malta also had an obligation to take in all rescued migrants.

Trying to dispel the notion often peddled in the Italian media and by some Italian politicians that Malta reneged on its duty towards rescued migrants, Dr Abela insisted migrants were always allowed to disembark whenever Malta was the closest safe port of call.

His comments come in the wake of an incident over the weekend as a French-registered Tunisian trawler that rescued 74 migrants was left stranded at sea after Italian authorities closed off the port of Lampedusa.

The rescue happened in Malta’s search and rescue area but closer to Lampedusa, which prompted the Armed Forces of Malta to direct the vessel to the Italian island. Eventually, Tunisia accepted to receive the migrants.

Dr Abela noted Malta’s willingness to participate in a discussion on the matter at the next International Maritime Organisation meeting in April in London.

In a joint press conference after the meeting in Rome, Dr Napolitano regretted that immigration sometimes became an issue of controversy between Malta and Italy and called for a common European policy.

“We should work hand in hand with Malta at European level. We are both exposed and we should not bounce the problem back and forth... we have to collaborate with each other and with the countries of origin.”

With reference to the lack of a common EU policy on migration, Dr Napolitano said this was dogged by uncertainty and divergence. He urged the EU to find a solution to what he described as “a relative stalemate”.

The two presidents also discussed the economic crisis and the Arab spring while reaffirming the good and long-standing relations between Malta and Italy.

Dr Abela is accompanied by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and today is expected to inaugurate an exhibition of Maltese sculptor Melchiore Gafà at the Accademia San Luca.

Dr Borg is expected to meet his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi Sant’Agata today and the delegation is set to return tomorrow.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com