Boats Should Be Blocked From Leaving Libya

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told a meeting of Socialists and Democrats in Brussels that the humanitarian problem with the crossing of illegal immigrants from Africa to Europe we have been facing for the last years has now developed into a security problem. Dr. Sant emphasised that in the current circumstances all boats should be blocked from leaving the Libyan coast. ‘This is not only a humanitarian problem. This has become a security problem’, The Maltese Head of Delegation at the S&D emphasised during a debate on the recent tragic events in the Mediterranean at the S&D in Brussels.
‘This tragic death of 900 human beings has shocked all Europe. Following these tragic events in the Mediterranean, Europe cant keep banking on the hope that a solution to this problem will be made after an agreement is reached between the various parts in Libya. We must make sure that all boats wont be able to leave the Libyan coast.’ Said Dr. Sant.

Maltese Version

IL-PROBLEMA TAL-IMMIGRAZZJONI SARET PROBLEMA TA’ SIGURTA’ – ALFRED SANT LIS-SOĊJALISTI EWROPEJ

Alfred Sant, Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Maltija fil-grupp tas-Soċjalisti u Demokratiċi Ewropej (S&D) qal li l-problema umanitarja li konna qed niffaċċjaw bil-kriżi tal-immigrazzjoni irregolari fl-aħħar snin fil-Mediterran issa żviluppat f’waħda ta’ sigurta’. Dr. Sant insista li fiċ-ċirkostanzi attwali ta’ dak li għaddej fil-Mediterran jeħtieġ li jsir imblokk minn issa tat-tluq ta’ inġenji tal-baħar mill-kosta Libjana. ‘Din m’għadhiex problema umanitarja biss, issa saret problema ta’ sigurta’ għall-Ewropa.’ Sostna Dr. Sant meta indirizza laqgħa tas-Soċjalisti Demokratriċi li kienet qed tiddiskuti t-traġedja tal-Mediterran fi Brussell.
Dr. Sant qal lill-S&D li wara dak li ġara fl-aħħar jiem, l-Ewropa ma tistax tibqa’ bil-politika li tistenna li fil-Libja jerġa’ jinstab ftehim bejn il-partijiet li mhumiex jaqblu bejniethom. L-Ewropa ma tistax tibqa’ tittama li jinħoloq gvern ġdid Libjan biex tissolva dil-problema. Fl-intervent tiegħu Dr. Sant qal li l-għarqa ta’ 900 immigrant fil-Mediterran heżżeż lill-Ewropa. Huwa importanti li tiġi iffaċċjata l-kriżi umanitarja, imma issa dil-problema tal-immigrazzjoni m’għadhiex waħda umanitarja biss, imma saret problema ta’ sigurta’.