Karl Stagno-Navarra
Cabinet is reported to have approved a ‘Plan of Action’ intended to demonstrate “absolute resilience” with Italy, which is persistently refusing to accept migrants rescued off the island of Lampedusa.
Speaking exclusively to MaltaToday, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici yesterday slammed the Italian government’s decision to suddenly declare Lampedusa an unsafe port as “hypocritical, obscene and unacceptable.”
According to sources, government’s plan of action includes being clear with the Italian government that “come what may” Maltese patrol boats will head towards Lampedusa and disembark migrants rescued off their coast.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi – who is also responsible for the Armed Forces – is understood to have given clear instructions to AFM commanders to keep him informed on all developments at sea, and to be resilient at all times.
“At this time, the Prime Minister is the Commander-in-Chief and we are ready to follow orders as they come,” one senior military source said.
Questioned about the details of the government's strategy, Carm Mifsud Bonnici opted not to reveal the contents of the Plan of Action.
However he admitted that a plan is in place and is intended to “demonstrate to any state that this is not a game, and we intend to do our duty, and expect others to do the same.” Mifsud Bonnici yesterday insisted that Italy’s intransigence in blockading Lampedusa, and not allowing a Maltese patrol boat to enter harbour to disembark 66 migrants last week, was “blatant irresponsibility towards human life and international obligations.”
“If Lampedusa, will the Italian government close the island for tourists and yachting this summer?” he asked.
The Minister was adamant in pointing out that Malta will continue carrying out its duties and shouldering all the necessary responsibilities at law, to rescue and coordinate the migrants wish to travel towards Italy, granting them right of passage, and assistance throughout their journey.
Referring to an article appearing in last Monday’s ‘Corriere della Sera’ in which Italian Home Affairs minister Roberto Maroni accused Malta of costing Italy €80 million in damages to support the alleged 60,000 “detoured migrants” – Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici dismissed the declaration out of hand.
“This is absolute rubbish and I don’t intend answering what is not even worth considering,” he said, while adding that the truth is that Malta is shouldering a responsibility that should rest with Italy, as not one single migrant in Malta wants to be here.
“They all left from Libya with a determined target, that of reaching Italy,” he insisted.
But experts predict another showdown with Italy at any time now, as Frontex sponsored patrols have commenced off Malta, with the help of just Luxembourg and Germany who are contributing with aircraft.
Sources have confirmed that only Malta has patrol boats at sea, as Italy has decided to go its own way and keep its assets at just 12 miles off Lampedusa and Sardinia.
Frontex chief Ilka Laitinen is expected in Malta over the coming days to take stock of the current situation, while a meeting in Geneva between Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and UNHCR Chief Antonio Gutierres is imminent.
On another front, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg flew to Tripoli yesterday morning to meet his new Libyan counter-part and discuss immigration among other matters.
“I see that there is a renewed political will by the Libyan government to keep an open dialogue with Malta and Italy on immigration and we hope to see the new Minister in Malta in the coming weeks,” he told MaltaToday.
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