Time to stem the spread of ISIS jihadists in Libya is running out, Foreign Minister George Vella warned this morning following a meeting with his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni, who is in Malta on an official visit.

Both ministers shared the two countries’ common concerns about Libya and the urgent need for stability in the neighbouring state. The international community’s efforts, led by the United Nations to build upon the Skhirat agreement were to be supported, they stressed.

Mr Gentiloni emphasised that the Libyan ownership of the stability process was crucial.

“A Libyan government of national accord, supported by the international community, is the best way to defeat the real threat of terrorism in certain parts of Libya,” he said.

Dr Vella shared his view and warned that something must be done to prevent ISIS from spreading into Tunisia and Nigeria “before it’s too late”.

He also spoke on the bilateral co-operation underway to face the challenges presented by migration. 

While there was no agreement that went beyond the provisions of the law of the seas, the Maltese foreign minister said the co-operation between the two countries was bearing fruit, despite some original hiccups on the delineation of the respective search and rescue areas.

“The phenomenon of migration will not go away although it is continuously changing.  It is crucial that no single country takes unilateral irreversible decisions as this could have a domino effect,” Mr Gentiloni said.

The ministers also discussed projects of common interest including the gas pipeline between Sicily and Malta and the electrical interconnector between Italy and Tunisia.