Joseph Muscat would not say yesterday if his government’s plan to deport a group of Somalis back to Libya was simply an act of provocation, saying only that “he wanted Europe to wake up and smell the coffee”.
Speaking live on the international news network Al Jazeera, Dr Muscat said his government was merely exploring “all options” as he made the case that Malta felt abandoned by the international community and especially the EU on the immigration issue.
“There is a feeling among people in my country that we have been abandoned,” he said, pointing out that as he was speaking some 160 migrants were being rescued. Earlier, 68 were brought ashore and in the evening another three boats were intercepted, bringing to 280 the number brought in yesterday.
Asked by Al Jazeera whether the Government’s plan was simply an act of provocation, Dr Muscat dodged the question and stuck to the same line.
“When left on your own and are faced with years and years of empty talk... you consider all options,” he said, adding that Malta had always met its international obligation to rescue people at sea.
Europe was quick to rescue Greek banks and Malta had contributed a “massive three per cent of the GDP” to that effort, so the EU “should also be quick on the rescue of people”.
Asked for his next step, Dr Muscat reiterated that Europe had responded to the Government’s declaration but added that more needed to be done to partner with Libya, the source of the great majority of African migrants who cross to Europe by sea.
“We should not see Libya as the problem but as part of the solution,” he insisted.
The interview came 24 hours after revelations that the Government was contemplating sending a group of 70 Somalis back to Libya, scheduled to leave on two char-tered flights.
However, the European Court of Human Rights blocked the action by issuing an interim ruling following an application filed on behalf of the Jesuit Refugee Service and a coalition of NGOs.
Asked if there was an agreement with Libya for the deportation, a spokesman for the OPM said the Libyan authorities expressed their willingness to cooperate in any eventuality, when they were informed that “all options” were being kept open on the latest “arrivals”.
“Any decision taken would have made sure that the immigrants were not maltreated or suffered any form of inhumane treatment,” the spokesman said, reiterating that the ECHR decision would be respected.