Prime Minister: Italy-Libya pushbacks of migrants ‘the right course of action’

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has paid tribute to what he termed the “understandings” between Italy and Libya – referring to the pushbacks of migrants and asylum seekers at sea back to the North African dictatorship – saying the actions had saved lives that would otherwise have been lost at sea.

“Over the last twelve months the understandings significantly reduced the flow of illegal trafficking in the central Mediterranean,” he told the diplomatic corps at the exchange of New Year’s greetings.

“This has also significantly reduced the tragic loss of life at sea which occurred in recent years. We believe that this course of action is the right one and should be pursued, in full recognition of the need at the same time to respect the humanitarian and human rights dimensions of the problem.”

The pushbacks have come under great international criticism from human rights organisations and the United Nations’ High Commission for Refugees, for effectively halting the safe passage of asylum seekers and returning them to Libya, which is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention.

On the other hand, Malta has seen the rate of immigrant landings and asylum claims fall to an all-time low in 2010. Malta also declined from participating in this year’s Frontex operations.

“With the European Asylum Support Office soon to be fully operational in Malta we look forward to working more closely with our EU partners in devising and implementing asylum policies and practices that take all aspects of this issue into account,” Gonzi said.

The prime minister also thanked EU partners who had agreed to participate in the pilot project for the intra-EU reallocation of refugees, and the “generous support” given by the United States in resettling refugees. “Let me emphasise however that the resettlement of protected persons remains a major priority for my government. We need your assistance in this.”

At the same time, Gonzi told diplomats that “developments in Africa are also of particular interest to Malta.” He said that while Malta experienced the way “instability and underdevelopment in some regions of Africa have affected migration patterns”, the island was devoting a significant part of its overseas development assistance funds, including climate change fast start funds, towards projects in Africa.

The amounts earmarked for ODA in the 2011 financial estimates amount to €333,000, while another €900,000 goes to the EU’s development fund for African states.

Malta is also present in the EU anti-piracy operation off the coasts of Somalia, as well as with the EU mission training Somali security forces in Uganda. “This continues to be an important aspect of Malta’s international engagement in order to actively promote peace and security primarily through the EU security structures,” Gonzi told diplomats.

Malta hasendorsed the convening of a Conference in 2012 to address the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. “The question of Palestine remains one of these key factors of instability. While the humanitarian situation in Gaza has marginally improved, much remains to be done,” Gonzi said.

“The objective of the international community must remain to find ways of exerting persuasion on both sides to return to the task of negotiating a just and viable two-state solution and which will see the State of Israel and a sovereign and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security.”