Visits to President and Prime Minister but no comment on Malta-Italy standoff
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon yesterday started a two-day official visit to Malta with talks at the Office of the Prime Minister.
He was given a formal welcome at Castille Place where he was greeted by Gonzi and inspected an AFM Guard of Honour.
In the afternoon he called on President George Abela and later received Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.
He also inaugurated a climate change monument at the University during a visit to the International Maritime Law Institute.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said he was not in a position to intervene in the issue between Malta and Italy on the destination of rescued migrants since the matter had been resolved “amicably” between the two countries.
Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at Castille this afternoon, Mr Ban avoided comment over whether Italy had acted in line with international conventions when it refused permission for the migrants to land in Lampedusa after having been rescued off the Italian island.
He said that as UN Secretary General he was calling for good treatment of refugees and asylum seekers according to international humanitarian laws.
But he did criticise Iranian President Ahmadinejad over comments he made Monday at a UN conference on racism.
“It is very regretful that the conference was misused by the Iranian President for political purposes,” referring to Ahmedinejad’s description of Israel as “the most cruel and racist regime.” His comments prompted a walkout by 23 delegations, include EU member states.
“Before the speech I had a long bilateral meeting with the President Ahmadinejad and urged him to give a balanced and constructive contribution to the conference because he was the only Head of State present,” Mr Ban said.
The Secretary General will today address a special sitting of Parliament and then be conferred with an honorary degree by the University.
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