Both Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat insisted yesterday that the country’s priority with respect to the unfolding situation in Libya should be national security. Both also called for a sense of prudence in anything that is said or done in the current situation.

In a call-in on Radio 101, Dr Gonzi noted that Malta had, from the very start, joined the international community in condemning the Gaddafi regime for attacking and killing civilians.

And Dr Muscat, in an interview on One Radio, said there was consensus about the decision for Malta not to serve as a military base and that the country’s role should be purely focused on the humanitarian aspect.

The Prime Minister said the decision was reasonable since the country had no military airport and its only airport could not be put in danger. Besides, the Sigonella military airbase is a short distance away, he said.

Dr Gonzi again spoke about last Friday’s telephone conversation with the Libyan prime minister, who told him the North African country was soon to announce a cease fire.

In reply, the Maltese Prime Minister insisted that a cease fire would only be credible if Libya were to withdraw all its weaponry from the different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, in response to claims that Malta, along with Germany, China and Turkey, had been asked to send delegations to Libya to monitor the cease fire, Dr Gonzi said it would not send a delegation for this purpose unless it is instructed to do so by the United Nations. Now that there is a second UN resolution that is being implemented, Malta would willingly follow instructions from the international organisation. So far, however, the country has not received any such request from the UN, said Dr Gonzi.

Asked about the presence of representatives of the Arab League at the Paris summit two days ago, Dr Gonzi said this was a clear indication that the entire international community, including Arab countries, has been condemning the Gaddafi regime.

On the economic impact of the crisis in Libya, he said the government is focusing on the possible impact on Malta’s economy, as well as the difficulties that Maltese people with business interests in Libya are going through.