The Libyan Salvation Government's Foreign Minister stressed that Libya is not the enemy in the migration situation unfolding in the Mediterranean.
This week, the European Union said that it will attack the smuggler’s network in Libya, which is responsible for the dangerous trip hundreds of migrants are taking.
Addressing a poorly-attended press conference at the embassy in Balzan, Muhammed El-ghirani said that he has made several attempts to meet with Malta’s foreign minister George Vella, however the latter refused, given the Tripoli government is not officially recognised by the United Nations.
“This situation has not started now, but Europe is making a big fuss out of it. We’ve tried to engage in diplomacy, but Malta, alongside other European countries, has always turned a blind eye, and now Libyans are being accused of smuggling migrants,” he said.
"Do you think Libya is happy about the situation at hand? Libya is just as hurt as Europe. What is good for Europe should be good for Libya and vice-versa. This issue should be tackled through collaboration. If Europe decides to attack, how it will distinguish between a fishing boat and a smuggler's boat, especially when it is empty? Smugglers are using dinghies that can be inflated within minutes,” he said.
He said that illegal immigration issue is a large and complex issue and people have been attempting to move to other countries for years. Malta, like Libya, serves as a transit country for the migrants, who aim to reach mainland Europe. Thousands of migrants from Nigeria, Tunisia, Sudan, Egypt and Somalia are going through Libya.
The minister said that Libya currently has 16,000 migrants in the rehabilitation centres, claiming that they are being treated well. “We have to treat a human being as a human being.”
For several months, the Europeans have failed to ask, so how can they expect any improvement? We assure you, that we are doing our best to minimise the situation. We are monitoring boats leaving the port.”
"Open your heart. We need to sit down around the table and discuss this matter," he said in a message to Europe. “Our heart is open to all the Maltese and Europeans. We urge you to give us a chance and help to do something good together. It is not impossible to stop it. Maybe if the Maltese government decides to talk to us, perhaps we can reach a solution.
If you decide not to talk to us because you say we’re unrecognised, than it is your problem to solve,” he emphasised.
He added that Libya is spending a lot of money to guard the coast.
Video & Photograph: Jonathan Borg