Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini had what was described as a 'very cordial' meeting today on the fringes of an EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg.

It was the first high level meeting between the two countries since the latest row over the rescue of migrants flared.

The Foreign Ministry said that while the two countries disagree in their interpretation of international law on rescue at sea, they agreed that what had taken place near Lampedusa should not dampen their relations.

Sig Frattini said the views expressed by Under-secretary for Energy Saglia on Sunday did not reflect the official position of the Italian government.

The politician had threatened that Italy would drop the power cable project between the two countries unless Malta 'cooperated' on illegal migration.

Meanwhile, Dr Borg will tomorrow will attend a meeting in Qatar that will discuss the latest developments in Libya.

Present for the meeting will be foreign ministers from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, Greece, Morocco, Qatar and Kuwait and representatives of the United Nations, the Arab League, the African Union and the  Organisation of the Islamic Conference,

The Libyan rebels yesterday rejected ceasefire proposals made by the African Union after they were accepted by Muammar Gaddafi.