Malta replies to Frattini over migrant rescue row

Mifsud Bonnici stressed that Malta always adhered to its international obligations and coordinated search and rescue operations.

Frattini – who was interviewed by Corriere della Sera – echoed his home affairs colleague Roberto Maroni who has previously hit out at Malta and also reported the alleged omission of rescue of migrant boats by the AFM to the European Commission, while Italian consumer rights association has referred the case before the International Criminal Court.

In his reply,  Carm Mifsud Bonnici said that Frattini had not been factual in his statements.

“Had he been so, the Armed Forces of Malta would not have rescued 1,530 people since the Libyan crisis started, including a group of 76 persons who escaped from Misurata on a fishing trawler last week.”

While stressing that Malta had “taken note” of Frattini’s comments, he insisted that the Maltese government  “serenely awaited” any communication from Rome or other relevant authorities to prove the above by answering in full and stating the facts.

Issues between Malta and Italy over migrant rescues in the Mediterranean have continued over the past hours, with the Northern League Venetian governor and fisheries minister Luca Zaia stressing that “Catholic Malta cannot afford to leave migrants die at sea.”

Speaking in Venice, Zaia said that “Malta was historically right in driving battles in virtue of its Christian roots, but the island must prove to all that it can still do the same.”

In another development, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg appealed for more air surveillance over the Mediterranean and along the Libyan coast in a bid to spot “fragile boats” and prepare for rescue.

Hammarberg stressed that the principle of "rescue at sea" must not only be respected for those close to a sinking ship;

 “While coast guards and fishermen from Italy and other countries have rescued many, European governments have tried to discourage the arrivals through push-backs and other strong deterrent measures,” Hammarberg said, adding that even these tough and controversial methods of tackling immigration did not prevented people from trying to reach Europe, “but it has made the journey more dangerous and given the smugglers a reason to increase their prices.”