Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this afternoon explained the burden of 'illegal' migration in the Mediterranean has put on Malta to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

During a meeting in which he was accompanied by Foreign Minister George Vella, Dr Muscat insisted that the status quo was not an acceptable choice and said this was why Malta was insisting for just and concrete solutions with its partners in the EU.

The Prime Minister spoke on factors which had to be addressed, including the involvement of Somalia and the control of Libya’s frontiers.

The Secretary General said the United Nations appreciated Malta’s role in this challenge.

He also spoke about the humanitarian situation in Syria as a result of a conflict in which 100,000 had already died and seven million had to escape.

He said there was a need for a political solution for the situation not to continue worsening.

Dr Muscat met Mr Ban Ki-moon in New York where he is attending the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

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