Foreign Minister Tonio Borg yesterday remained non-committal on the possibility of imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, or parts of it, saying Malta would not necessarily back such a decision even if made at UN and EU level.
Speaking after an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, Dr Borg said the 27 member states were united on the need to have UN Security Council and Arab League backing for a no-fly zone to be imposed. Saying Malta preferred a non-military solution, he noted the island might not back military intervention even if the decision was taken by the UN Security Council and the EU.
“We have to see how things develop,” he said curtly when pressed over Malta’s stand in the eventuality of a UN-backed decision on a no-fly zone.
“Malta will not necessarily back such a decision even if taken at a UN and EU level. We have our neutrality to respect and we have to tread carefully with such a decision,” Dr Borg said.
No formal decisions were taken by EU Foreign Ministers yesterday, who met in preparation for today’s summit of EU leaders on the Libyan situation.
According to the EU’s Foreign Policy chief, Catherine Ashton, the meeting, which lasted less than two hours, served to help her formulate her position ahead of the summit.
A no-fly zone was one of the tools being considered, she said, but also stressed the need for a UN and Arab League mandate.
During the meeting, the ministers were briefed by Malta, Italy and Portugal on talks they had with emissaries of Muammar Gaddafi on Wednesday.
Although Dr Borg made no reference in his comments to these talks, his Italian counterpart, Franco Frattini, indicated that, through his emissaries, Col Gaddafi had asked for the start of some kind of mediation with the opposition. He said none of the EU member states involved made any commitments and instead reiterated that their position was that Col Gaddafi must leave before any talks with the opposition could begin.
Meanwhile, Baroness Ashton said she would be travelling to Cairo on Monday for official talks with the Arab League.
According to Mr Frattini, a meeting of the Arab League on Saturday will be crucial if there is to be a no-fly zone.