There cannot be a common refugee policy in the EU unless all states acknowledge that some immigrants have to be relocated to other member states, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said this morning during a visit to the Hal Far Open Centre on the occasion of World Refugee Day.
During his visit, the minister distributed fruit to the immigrants, provided by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Jamaat (Malta).
Speaking at the family area, where there are 50 people, the minister said that 310 immigrants landed in Malta so far this year.
Dr Mallia said this was a very special day for international communities that had to take an important decision to leave their families and countries for foreign lands.
The Maltese government was committed to continue meetings to ensure that other countries fulfilled their international obligations and accepted relocated immigrants.
He told the immigrants: “We are all human beings, we all have rights and obligations and we should try to understand and accept Maltese traditions and cultures.”