Libya strives for European cooperation on immigration issues

Jan 20, 2010, 16:08 GMT

Valletta, Malta - Libya's foreign minister Wednesday appealed for more help in managing floods of migrants, telling European officials they do not understand the scope of the problem.

'We are acting as guards to Europe, and Libya might not be able to continue to do this. You don't know what the problem is. The problem is shouldered by Libya,' he told reporters following a meeting with his Maltese counterpart, Tonio Borg, in Valletta.

Kousa said Libya had 2 million illegal immigrants in its population of 6 million.

The crush of immigrants has raised questions about the welfare of migrants traveling through Libya, especially after a December report by Jesuit Refugee Services, which described Libyan detention centres as 'hopeless, dark, overcrowded and lacking basic sanitation and hygiene facilities.'

The report documented stories of migrants who made it to Malta. They spoke of death, violence and racism. Migrants claimed they were refused medical care and fed just two bread rolls a day.

However, Kousa refuted those claims, insisting voluntary organizations were using the issue for 'propaganda purposes' without offering any assistance to immigrants.

'We ask the NGOs to come to Libya and provide treatment, care and shelter to these immigrants. Libya provides such treatment and this is what we believe human rights are.'

Libya is not a signatory to the UN Convention for Refugees.

He called on the international community to pay attention to this phenomenon: 'We are trying to relieve you from part of the burden but the rest of the EU member states are not interested and not paying attention to this problem.'

Kousa said the situation showed why Libya had to reach separate agreements on migration with Italy and Malta.

During the meeting, Malta and Libya agreed to set up a mechanism for the exchange of information and enhancement of cooperation in relation to illegal immigration.

Earlier Wednesday, in a separate meeting, Borg proposed to Gianfranco Fini, speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, that the two countries hold regular meetings on defence issues relating to illegal migration.

Fini said Italy and Malta had to show all EU member states that illegal immigration was a problem to the EU.

Italy's policy of sending migrants rescued in international waters back to Libya has been severely criticised by humanitarian organisations and the Vatican.