Human rights and friendship treaties

Libyan Ambassador Dr Saadun Ismail Suayeh meeting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, this week.

Last week Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg told parliament that there were good prospects for the signing of a Malta-Libya Friendship and Partnership Agreement.

Yesterday the Italian parliament was debating Italy's friendship agreement with the pariah state. It voted a motion proposed by the Italian radicals and supported by Fini’s new centre-right party, which obliges the Italian government to call on the Libyan government to sign the UN convention on refugees and to reopen the office of the UNHCR in Libya.

The approved amendments effectively make it clear that in the absence of these guarantees, migrants cannot be forced back to Libya.

Over the past months Malta's diplomacy has ignored these issues to the extent that the Maltese government failed to react to the closure of the UNHCR office. Malta's original proposal; that of a checkpoint for asylum seekers in Libya which does away with the need of immigrants crossing the deadly seas, would only be applicable if Libya abides with international norms. Therefore it is in our own interest to work in tandem with Italy to persuade Libya to sign the convention on refugees.

If Italy finally gets a new government which reflects the values of the majority of Italian MPs on this sensitive issue, Malta risks isolation if it continues to ignore the issue of human rights in its dealings with Libya.

The risk is that Ghaddafi – after being spoilt by Berlusconi  (perhaps in appreciation for   teaching him the fine art of the bunga bunga) – will once again use immigrants as pawns in his blackmail game.

But if that happens the fault lies squarely on those who failed to negotiate a long-term solution based on respect for human rights.