(Adds Foreign Ministry statement)
Although Malta did not have the necessary resources to send soldiers or equipment to take part in a UN-led mission in Libya, it could serve as a contact point with the Libyan people as it is the European country Libyans trusted the most, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Speaking to journalists on the situation in the north African country, he said that, if need be, Malta could also help logistically, something that was allowed by the Constitution.
Any action, the Prime Minister said, should be taken under the UN’s umbrella: “We cannot take action unilaterally but there should be a coalition…”
Italy, he said, had already expressed its interest to lead a mission and two other EU countries, as well as Arab and Middle Eastern states, had also expressed an interest in taking part.
Dr Muscat said it was important to build contact with Libyans as such a mission should be carried out with their support.
Asked about fears nationally about a threat for Malta, Dr Muscat said:
“We are not informed to date that there is a real threat of attack on Malta but the situation is still of concern because of extremist groups on our doorstep which took over parts of Libya that are not under the control of either of the two Libyan governments.”
Speaking at the launch of a Commonwealth Business Forum earlier, Dr Muscat said Malta could not turn a blind eye to what was happening around it especially since Libya had become a playing field for terrorists.
Commonwealth countries, he said, had a role to actively seek to fight terrorism.
Terrorists were not based in one part of a country or continent but in several parts of the world that were burning, “and we cannot, as an international community, as Maltese, sit back and let Libya sink further into violence and lawlessness”.
Expecting things to fall into place, he said, was no longer an option.
“The United Nations should act.”
Dr Muscat said that had the international community listened to Malta and Italy’s plea “we would not be in such a dire situation”.
Malta and Mediterranean Europe, he said, would stand to benefit from stability in Libya. The priority was to restore peace which would benefit trade and business.
Asked about the problem of irregular migration, Dr Muscat admitted this had escalated.
He referred to Malta’s help in yesterday’s Italy-led rescue and said that yesterday’s arrivals were not the last and there would be others.
Malta, he said, could not stay out of such rescue operations and then complain about migration.
He confirmed reports that criminals had shot on an Italian patrol boat as it was rescuing migrants from a boat. It was not possible for Malta not to intervene and then complain about migration, he added.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said it was gravely concerned by the latest developments in Libya and strongly condemned the heinous crimes committed against Egyptian nationals.
“There should be no refuge for those who have committed these despicable acts. International justice must be set in motion to bring all those who participated or were involved in any way in the perpetration of such crimes to be brought to justice sooner rather than later.”
The ministry extended its condolences to all the families of the victims and expressed its support to the friendly Egyptian people in this moment of grief.
It urged all Libyans to put aside their differences, rally around and work together in the search for a negotiated peaceful settlement of the crisis.
It reiterated that there was no other alternative to political dialogue and reconciliation. Unity and understanding among the parties in the Libyan crisis could resolve the political, economic, and social upheavals as well as the humanitarian crisis that were afflicting Libya, it said, adding that this process would also contribute towards combating the rise of terrorism and extremism in Libya.