Malta is not legally responsible to assist a group of illegal immigrants aboard
a Spanish vessel called Mont Falco stranded in Libyan territorial waters, said
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg on Monday.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Borg also spoke of another group of illegal
immigrants who were rescued by a Maltese fishing boat in Libyan territorial
waters on Saturday which was subsequently given assistance by Italian
authorities.
26 illegal immigrants on the vessel Mont Falco were rescued in Libyan
waters, 17 miles off Malta’s allocated rescue area, said Dr Borg adding that therefore
they fall under the responsibility of Libyan authorities. Although Malta has no
international obligations to help the illegal immigrants in this case, it is
ready to provide humanitarian aid should the need arise, continued the
Minister.
The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) which monitored the Spanish vessel’s movements on
Monday morning noted that it seemed to be sailing towards Spain.
On the other hand, the 27 illegal immigrants who were helped to board the
Budafel were rescued 120 miles south of Malta, hence 23 miles outside the
Maltese rescue boundaries, stated Minister Borg. Prior to their rescue the
illegal immigrants spent numerous hours hanging onto tuna cages for safety
after their vessel sank.
The Minister along with AFM Brigadier Carmel
Vassallo, gave a detailed account of what occurred during the past three days
as the two cases unfolded. They added that they informed the Libyan authorities
of the cases immediately; however the illegal immigrants on the Mont Falco
remain stranded, while those on the Budafel were assisted by Italian
authorities.
The incident echoes that involving 51 illegal
immigrants aboard a Spanish vessel called Francisco y Catalina last July. The
Spanish vessel remained anchored off the Maltese coast for at seven days after
it was refused permission to dock in Malta. The illegal immigrants were
brought ashore in Malta and
boarded two separate Spanish military aircraft, one headed towards Italy and the other headed towards Spain.
The Eritrean immigrants were eventually resettled in a number of countries
including Italy and the
Azores archipelago near Portugal.
Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature: Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.
