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Malta gearing up to assume role as logistical base for EU evacuations from Libya
Malta is gearing up to assume the role as a logistical base for EU evacuations from Libya, with governmental departments, the Malta International Airport and the Malta Transport Authority holding meetings to coordinate arrivals and departures of aircraft and ships from Libya, as EU nationals are being urged to leave the North African country at once.
MaltaToday is informed that while priority is being given to the evacuations of Maltese who wish to leave Libya at once, there exists some preoccupation for the fate of around 20 Maltese nationals who were caught up in the chaos that took over the cities of Benghazi and Misurata.
Speaking to MaltaToday from Brussels, where he is attending an urgent meeting for EU Ministers, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said that at present a special unit composed of personnel from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Ministry is working to coordinate the evacuation of those Maltese who have already given notice that they want to leave Libya.
Asked to comment about reports that Malta is preparing to become a logistical base in support of the evacuations of EU nationals from Libya, he said that although this was not officially discussed in Brussels, “Malta was offering its services to all who required them given the close proximity of Malta to Libya, and this in the spirit of full solidarity with our EU partners.”
He added that it is possible that Malta could assume a role as a logistical base for evacuees, as Cyprus was during the war in Lebanon.
