Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/608340
TIM DIACONO INTERNATIONAL powers seek- ing a solution to the Syria crisis must not allow the war-torn coun- try to become "another Iraq", Prime Minister Joseph Muscat warned. Responding to questions at the end of a press conference, Muscat said that the Iraqi administrations formed after the 2003 invasion proved to be non-inclusive, "a short- coming whose after-effects are still being felt to this day". He refused to comment on whether Syrian President Bashar al Assad should be part of a long-term solution to stability in the country, a possibility that UK Prime Minister David Cameron adamantly ruled out yesterday. Instead, Muscat said that Malta would play its part in bringing "le- gitimate" Syrian factions to the ta- ble "as per Malta's legacy". "Malta will respect its consti- tutional neutrality, while not re- maining neutral to terror," he said. "Unfortunately, military action is required against ISIS in Syria, but it is not my role to interfere in the debate as to whether Assad should stay or go." Australia's new prime minister al- so addressed the press conference, but he refused to answer journal- ists' questions related to his stance on Assad's future. "Australia is the second largest military contributor to the [US- led] fight against Da'esh," Malcolm Turnbull said. When pressed for his opinion on Assad, Turnbull simply smiled as a moderator cut the question short. On Libya, Muscat called for the imposition of sanctions on the people within the rival Tobruk and Tripoli governments who are opposing a national unity govern- ment. "Everybody knows who these peo- ple are, and they should be given an ultimatum – to agree to a unity government or face sanctions," he said. He described Libya as a "Chime- ra", with the volatile situation on the ground liable to change from one day to the next. "UN peace talks in Libya have not yet produced any tangible results, and the international commu- nity's patience is running thin," he warned. "At this stage, most sides must get their act together, and realize that they both must make concessions to reach a solution for a unity govern- ment. The time will soon come for a moment of reckoning in Libya." Unnamed country has reservations on climate action The Commonwealth Heads of Government failed to take a united stand in the run-up to the Paris Cli- mate Conference. The Commonwealth leaders reaf- firmed their commitment to work towards "an ambitious, equitable, inclusive, rules-based and durable outcome of COP21 that includes a legally-binding agreement in the form of a protocol". But an undisclosed country ex- pressed reservations on this clause and two others, confirming the difficulty of the leaders agreeing to broker a meaningful agreement in Paris. Asked to reveal the dissenting voice, outgoing Commonwealth secretary-general Kamalesh Shar- ma refused to name the country, insisting the reason was to preserve unity. On his part, Turnbull said the goal of the Paris summit is "a strong and durable agreement that commits all countries to effective, credible ac- tion on climate change." maltatoday, SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2015 News 'Syria must not be allowed to become another Iraq' – Muscat Prime Minister calls for sanctions to be imposed on individuals within rival Tobruk and Tripoli administrations who are actively opposing attempts at a unity Libyan government From left: Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, outgoing Commonwealth secretary general Kamalesh Sharma, Joseph Muscat and Mauritius PM Anerood Jugnauth