The pact with Malta that gives us immigrants
Of Paolo Becchi e Cesare Sacchetti on Libero, 25/05/2017
While the landings of migrants on the Italian coasts continue and controversies rage over the responsibilities of NGOs regarding their alleged collaboration with smugglers, more than a few observers have wondered why NGO ships don't even think of bringing migrants to Malta. The small island in the middle of the Mediterranean is no longer affected by the problem today, yet it is located closer to the Libyan coast than Sicily, and according to the rules of international law, migrants should be accompanied to the closest and safest port of destination for their safety. Malta has all the characteristics required by the case, but NGO ships do not even consider approaching Maltese ports. The issue reopens a debate that began last year, when the leader of the opposition and the Maltese nationalist party, Simon Musuttil, in a statement quoted by The Independent, he openly accused the Maltese government of treason for having signed a tacit agreement with Rome.
Which agreement is the Maltese politician referring to?? According to Musutti, Rome and Valletta have reached an agreement which provides for the interruption of the arrival of migrants on the Maltese coasts in exchange for the concession of oil exploitation rights in the stretch of sea south-east of Sicily, halfway between this and Malta. On this point there was a bitter dispute between the two countries which reached its peak in 2012. In that period, in fact, the government of Rome extended the stretch of sea where oil drilling was carried out until it reached, according to Valletta, in Maltese territorial waters. According to an independent study carried out by the company ERC Equipoise, the stretch of sea in question could yield a quantity of oil equal to approximately 260 million barrels. From here the clash between Rome and Valletta arose. Read More
