Malta at the moment could be likened to a minnow in a tidal wave – at the mercy of the elements and the rising tide of the revolutions spreading across the Mediterranean and in Libya in particular.
Given the growing threats of international military action against Libya, the prospect of massive waves of refugees heading Malta’s way, possible retaliations from the Gaddafi regime and a host of other considerations, there are many risks that a small country such as Malta faces, by geographical quirk, in the rapidly evolving, or rather devolving, situation.
On the other hand, Malta could at the moment be likened to an unshakable pillar of strength, a beacon of humanity planted firmly in the middle of the Mediterranean – the Mediterranean’s demarcation line between righteousness and villainy, a place where the world can cast its eye and be assured there is a bastion in the form of these small islands for the values we in the Western world hold most dear.
Much has been said of the Prime Minister’s press conference last Sunday. He has been praised and rebuked for having taken a concrete stance on what is the most outstanding global issue of the day. This was the first time many had seen the Prime Minister so deeply concerned, and the burden of the decision appeared to weigh heavily that evening.
Yet, what had to be done was done. He echoed what many on the international stage had already said – that the end of the Gaddafi regime was inevitable. But coming from Malta, a country that has over the last 40-odd years had something of a special relationship with its southern neighbour, spoke volumes. He also said that Malta had implemented the UN’s sanctions against Libya, which it was nevertheless bound to do.
But perhaps most telling of all was his admission that the government had turned away a Libyan plane carrying pilots sent to take back the two Libyan Air Force Mirage fighter jets left here by defecting pilots, which would, had the government been made of flimsier stuff, presumably been used to bomb rebels and civilians.
That gesture spoke volumes of how Malta is and will continue to stand on the right side of the equation – the side of righteousness and staunchly against the atrocities being committed in Libya.
The EU has taken a stand, so has the United Nations Security Council and several member states. There is a tidal wave near Malta’s shores and this would certainly not be the first time the country has been called to action – only to rise over and above the call of duty as it has already done so well in its coordination and handling of evacuees from Libya. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes and away from even the media’s prying eyes. That, and Malta’s bold stance, will not be forgotten anytime soon.
A tidal wave approaching shore
As Libya inches closer to an all-out civil war, concerns of a mass exodus of refugees from Libya being expressed by Malta and its fellow Mediterranean EU member are approaching their litmus test.
And in such a fluid situation, it is very hard for anyone to discern where the flow will be directed – to the east, west, south or north of the embattled country. While refugees have been flooding to the Tunisian and Egyptian borders, it is only a matter of time until those fleeing seek far safer havens in Europe, and that is exactly what the concern is.
It is unfathomable how even one of Malta’s fellow EU member states could be resisting plans to share such a possible burden by helping to relocate the masses of people who could begin fleeing Libya at any given moment. But then again such a move would prove unpopular at home and such is the burden of public relations in politics.
Such is the situation in which Malta finds itself, given the warning signs being made by southern European politicians who estimate a potential 300,000 people fleeing northward of Libya in ‘migrant’ boats toward safety in Europe. Frontex and Europol have also expressed similar concerns.
Malta’s own home affairs minister made it clear last week to his European counterparts that should Malta find itself in a situation it was unable to cope with, it would simply open the gates and allow those escaping Libya an open route to the rest of Europe.
That was a bold, and perfectly correct, stance in the face of resistance to share the prospective burden.
Should such a situation come to fruition, Malta absolutely must not be left stranded as it had been in the past with the sub-Saharan migrant influxes. But given the international attention being given to the Libyan revolution, this is not likely to happen. Again, such is the burden of public relations in politics.
In the current resumption of its role of nurse of the Mediterranean, Malta has not been forced to share any burden – the country saw a crisis situation, it rose formidably to the challenge and it did so in the best possible demonstration of international solidarity.
We expect nothing less of Malta’s fellow EU states should Malta find itself in need of assistance and with a burden that needs to be shared.