Assisting Maltese citizens living abroad is an important duty for the Foreign Affairs Ministry. During this legislature, the ministry made it a priority to establish closer links with Maltese citizens living abroad.
This resulted in a record of 17,000 requests, in 2011. Consular aid is of vital importance to the ministry, especially when it comes to establish closer links with Maltese living abroad.
The year 2011 saw North African countries, namely Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, rise up against their outdated leaders. The uprising came to be known as the Arab Spring. The Maltese diplomatic missions played a vital role in assisting Maltese nationals living in these countries; the former had regular contact with Maltese citizens, keeping them informed on the latest novelties and protecting them.
The Libyan Crisis
The Arab Spring in Libya degenerated into a civil conflict. This called for humanitarian aid in Libya. In this regard, Malta was a front-liner. Hence, at the beginning of this conflict, shortly after the imposition of sanctions by the United Nations Security Council against the Gaddafi regime, Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had stated: “Violence cannot and does not have the right to negate the Libyan people their legitimate aspirations. Hence, I think that the Gaddafi regime’s end is inevitable.”
As the Libyan conflict progressed, Malta played a vital role in providing humanitarian aid and assistance to foreign citizens living in Libya. A crisis unit was set up, which included an array of departments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A call centre was set up with the aim of assisting Maltese nationals living in Libya. The call centre received 2,600 telephone calls and a substantial number of contacts via e-mail. In relation, Malta’s Embassy in Libya assisted 270 Maltese citizens with leaving Libya. Furthermore, more than 100 states asked Malta to assist their nationals living in Libya.
During the Libya Crisis, various entities, mainly the Armed Forces of Malta, health authorities, airport personnel, NGOs and Civil Protection assisted individuals who had been evacuated from Libya and reached Malta by air or by sea.
An active role fulfilled by the government
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tonio Borg had meetings with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini in Rome, as well as meetings held by the Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU. The subject discussed was the situation in Libya and the role of the European countries and the international community.
Dr Borg visited Libya twice following the insurgency. The first visit, in July 2011, saw him meeting with the National Transitional Council (NTC). The subjects dealt with included irregular migration, financial aid, scholarships and commercial ties between the two countries. During his visit in Benghazi, Dr Borg visited the main square where photos of those who died during the uprising were displayed. The Maltese flag, together with other national flags of those countries that assisted the Libyan people during the revolt, was flown along the streets and the squares of Benghazi.
The second visit took place in November 2011 when Dr Gonzi, accompanied by Dr Borg and the Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment, Tonio Fenech flew to Tripoli, Libya. By then, the Gaddafi regime had fallen. Meetings with the high-ranking Libyan authorities ensued and both sides discussed the strengthening of economic and bilateral relations as well as joint collaboration in the future.
Council of the Maltese Living abroad
The Foreign Affairs Ministry excelled in establishing contact with the Maltese living abroad and securing the wellbeing of Maltese citizens, as well as the wellbeing of foreign nationals during the Libyan crisis.
The Council of the Maltese Living abroad is holding its first official meetings in Malta. This is unprecedented. This is another electoral promise being implemented by the Nationalist Government. I look forward to positive initiatives being undertaken by this Council in the months and years to come.
David Agius is the Nationalist Party whip