I refer to the letter entitled 'Crocodile tears for Maltese workers in Libya Pt2' (TMIS, 7 September).

While not wishing in any way to engage in any polemic, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs notes that Mr Sammut is basing his claims (that the Ministry is providing incorrect information) on the fact that he was in Malta on 22 July 2014. The Ministry would like to underline that the Ministry only stated that it had contacted Mr Sammut. Mr Sammut confirms this, only stating however that he was still in Malta. Whether he was in Libya or in Malta is immaterial. At least, Mr Sammut admits that subsequently he informed the Crisis Centre that he did not need any assistance, as claimed by the Ministry. Your readers can, therefore, decide who is telling the truth.

The fact that Mr Sammut was in Malta on 22 July shows that he seems to have then travelled to Libya against the travel advice published by the Ministry (which at that time was to "to avoid all non-essential travel to Libya"). He did so irrespective of the fact that, according to him, he found that the situation was going from bad to worse. Nevertheless, as part of its evacuation plan, the Ministry offered Mr Sammut a place on a Greek military vessel from Tripoli to Crete at no cost. However, Mr Sammut expected the Ministry to also pay for his flight from Crete to Malta.

The Ministry wishes to clarify that all those who contacted the Crisis Centre and expressed interest in leaving Libya were assisted depending on the means available at that point in time, including available commercial flights, for which cost and terms of payment were set by the respective private agencies.

Rather than discrediting Maltese workers in Libya, as Mr Sammut claims, the Ministry made all possible efforts to assist those who were interested in returning to Malta and also kept in contact with those who stayed to check on their well-being.

Maria Muscat

Communications Coordinator, Ministry for Foreign Affairs