I refer to the allegations made by Italian presenter and journalist Massimo Giletti on Italian television last weekend, where he claimed that Malta fired upon asylum seekers at sea.

I think Ambassador Balzan waffled a bit and spoke as one would expect from a diplomat but this is not what televiewers would wish to hear.

What he should have emphasised in no uncertain manner is that: The presenter didn’t know what he was talking about. Lampedusa is much nearer to Tunis and immigrants, logically, would make for that island rather than Malta which is many more hours away.

Any immigrant would prefer an Italian foothold from where they are automatically transferred to mainland Italy – easier to escape into the European illegal employment system.

■ Edwin Pace

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