Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/846769
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 JULY 2017 Opinion 26 Malta's voice in Brussels has sent a stern reprimand to the European Union's member states, after ambassador Rich- ard Cachia Caruana criticised member states for not rebuking Libya for its failure to save immigrants it was legally bound to. In a letter to his German counterpart Wilhelm Schoenfelder dated 8 June, Malta's permanent representative to the EU lamented that all guns had been turned on Malta, while "not one single voice has called on the country", refer- ring to Libya, "to honour its obligations". He described as 'unacceptable' and 'incorrect' statements made by Spain and Commissions Vice-President Franco Frattini, and in no unclear terms expressed Malta's "profound disappoint- ment at the ill-judged way" at the criti- cism levelled against it by the Commis- sion and member states. "While Malta has been targeted for criticism," he said referring to the Budafel, Montfalco, and Motte Piquet incidents concerning shipwrecked migrants, "not one single voice has called on the country which was international- ly bound t coordinate search and rescue operations in the two incidents as well as to receive the rescued individuals to honour its obligations." Cachia Caruana said the rescue opera- tions had been the sole responsibility of the Libyans because the incidents took place in its search and rescue regions (SAR). The revelation of Cachia Caruana's reprove to the EU comes a week after Libyan ambassador Saad El Shlmani threatened MaltaToday with legal ac- tions if it carried "any more attacks on Libya and its leadership". Claiming it was "insulted" by reports and opinion columns carried in Malta- Today about the way Tripoli has been handling the often fatal immigrants' exodus from its shores over the last months, the Libyan government said it would take action if MaltaToday car- ried "any more attacks on Libya and its leadership". In his letter, Richard Cachia Caruana also defended Malta from accusations by Commission Vice-President Franco Frat- tini, who frowned upon Malta's reluc- tance to save migrants outside its SAR. "The claim that Malta should take re- sponsibility for rescued persons outside its search and rescue region apart from being legally incorrect places also an un- fair and unreasonable burden on Malta. "This is not merely a 'legal bureaucratic government', as Commission Vice- President Franco Frattini called it in La Repubblica, but it is an issue that, as we are all aware, has wide ramifications." Cachia Caruana said that "while registering my authorities' profound disappointment at the ill-judged way the above matters have been handled, we prefer to look ahead and try and find a way forward to ensure that such inci- dents will not recur." He referred to claims by Frattini that Malta had not ratified the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention and the Search and Rescue Conventions. "This is totally incorrect," Cachia Caruana wrote. "What has probably given rise to Mr Frattini's remark are the recent amend- ments to the Conventions," referring to new amendments forcing Malta to take in anyone saved in its SAR, even if the persons rescued at sea can be taken to the nearest safe port – an amendment Malta has not accepted. Cachia Caruana gave detailed break- downs of the incidents in which he claimed Malta had informed Libya of the incidents in their SAR, but that no action had been taken by the North African state, such as the Budafel tuna pen incident. He said Malta could not accept state- ments by the Spanish government that it was bound to take migrants saved by a Spanish vessel, the Montfalco, when it rescued a number of individuals inside the Libyan SAR. He also said it was "patently not true" that Malta refused corpses picked up by the French military vessel La Motte Piquet, which were collected from the Libyan SAR. "Indeed, Malta's foreign minister personally called the French Ambassador in Valletta making it clear that Malta was ready to accept the corps- es even if Libya would not co-operate in that respect. This was equally an issue of human dignity." Cachia Caruana said the obligation to save lives at sea was the responsibility of all countries bordering the Mediter- ranean, "and not only of EU member states. In this respect, my authorities believe it imperative that all countries be called upon to honour their interna- tional obligations." Malta tells Brussels to point its finger at Libya News – 7 July 2007 Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. Facts, not deceit Victoria terminus shortcomings Regarding the comments by Mr Jeremy Cassar Torreggiani (25 June, 2017) his ar- guments have already been fully answered and refuted in Court, so there is no need to respond or reply. However, it is important to note that based on his background, he does not appear to be an objective or disinterested observer. Indeed, he seems to have a strong pecuniary interest in the outcome of the National Bank of Malta (NBM) sharehold- ers' claim for compensation. We, on the other hand, have no pecuniary interest whatsoever in the final outcome. We were engaged solely to analyse the facts and evidence and to render an expert opinion. It also is imperative that your readers are informed of comments made at a meeting held on 10th December, 1973 at which both the president and the general manager of NBM were present. The record of that meeting shows that "[the NBM representa- tive] indicated that it could be possible for Government to take over National (NBM) without putting up any money (that is giv- ing the shares at nil value). The important thing was to safeguard the depositors." This statement made by NBM officials shows that they had recognised already in mid-December 1973 that the bank was in- solvent and its shares had zero value. They knew it then, and all the evidence and analysis since, including the independent report by Deloitte & Co., has reaffirmed that fact. R.W. Nun USA Cartoon or best actor? "Mickey mouse country", John Bundy's immortal expression, readily comes to mind. According to Mr. R. Mifsud, we are a basically corrupt people. The allegedly wickedly corrupt ones are at the moment awaiting judgement. When the magisterial enquir- ies are over, perhaps impercep- tibly, one thing will emerge. We would have discovered the greatest actor in the world. When the political leaders confronted each other on TV, during the election campaign – both were extremely convincing in their arguments. John Azzopardi (Zabbar) Whoever is responsible for it should see to the situation. I am referring to the bus ter- minus in Victoria, which is a fairly heavily used facility that is somewhat cramped for space where it matters. The terminus operates fairly efficiently, and there does not seem to be any may- hem, in spite of all the buses operating from it, coming and going. But, for one, there are at times so many passengers waiting for their bus to come, that there are not enough benches where one can seat oneself. A few more benches would help. And the area where commuters have to wait for the route 301 bus, which takes them to Mgarr and the ferry, is totally unprotected, and a hazard at present, with the sun beating down on them mercilessly. As it is route 301 passengers have to wait in the main area, resulting in a bit of a rush when the 301 bus turns up. But the main point I want to make is about the cover the main area provides to passengers waiting for their bus. Until quite a few weeks ago, two large sections of the ceiling had come off, or were removed. Luckily for commuters, it has again not rained much this year, so waiting for the bus did not often amount to waiting in the rain. But since a few weeks, another section of the ceiling has gone missing, or was removed, and there is now a considerable area of several square metres missing the cover to protect against the sun, or the rain when that comes. Can somebody please see to this without delay? The missing sections do not make for an attractive sight. The place looks a bit of a shambles. Paul Vella, Xewkija. A 40-year saga is entering its final chapter for the National Bank of Malta's shareholders and their heirs