LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg called for a ceasefire in Gaza, an independent investigation into the bombing of Ahli Arab Hospital in central Gaza and called on Hamas to release all hostages immediately.
Borg, who was addressing the United Nation’s Security Council, added, “Malta will continue to work for a two-state resolution,” and urged influential parties to promote dialogue and de-escalation to nurture peace. Terrorist groups should not be financed, he added. The Maltese Foreign Minister stated Malta acknowledged that Israel has a right to defend itself but added that any military action must be conducted according to international law and be proportional, while condemning all attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers. He added that “the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people must not be confused with the terroristic group of Hamas”. Borg said Malta was “deeply concerned” over Israel’s decision to cut off water, food, fuel and electricity supplies to Gaza. Humanitarian corridors and safe zones must be established in Gaza, he said.

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Investigations by the police in Malta led to the arrest of three more Syrians, two of whom were remanded in custody for suspected terror accusations and the other one was released on bail after he was accused of money laundering. The Syrians had been arrested in connection with the recently re-opened magisterial inquiry into the publication of terrorism-related material on social media by a number of Syrian nationals residing in Malta suspected of being part of a terror cell of Islamic extremists. The police have not yet spoken to all witnesses and the investigation was focusing on 30 individuals, some of whom may also be arraigned. Plasterer Farhan Mohammed Sheikh, 29, and Abdulla Aliwi, 23, both from Homs, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges. The Prosecuting inspector said that one of the defendants had entered Malta illegally, had no job and had no ties to the country. One of them had even gone to Greece to apply for refugee status before being sent back to Malta. The court denied bail after hearing the submissions described the nature of the charges as “most serious”. It also underlined the need to protect public order and security. Ebrahim Ahmad, 35, a plasterer from Homs was accused with money laundering and offering illegal banking services. He was also accused of conspiring to commit an offence in Malta. He pleaded not guilty. The man was granted bail against €40,000 deposit and an €80,000 personal guarantee. The defence informed the court that Ahmad was unable to pay the deposit and would be filing an application for a variation of his bail conditions in due course. The accused was remanded in custody until then.
(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Italy and Tunisia has signed an agreement authorizing 4,000 non-seasonal Tunisian workers every year.

The Minister of Labour and Social Policies, Marina Calderone said: “it is a concrete commitment by the Government to respond more adequately to the manpower needs of our production system and at the same time promote the management of regular, controlled and safe migratory flows of Tunisian workers.”

Minister Calderone made the statement on the sidelines of the signing of the three-year agreement, today in Tunis, by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and his Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar.

The memorandum provides simplified procedures for issuing visas and residence permits. Furthermore, as an exception to the general rule on this type of entry, the workers concerned will have the possibility to remain in Italy even at the end of the contract, for the period of validity of the residence permit, and access further employment opportunities and regular residence.

The memorandum defines a working plan and methods to implement the agreement, through the signing of a protocol between the respective specialized entities(on the Italian side Anpal Servizi) for the identification of sectors, level of skills and procedures for matching the supply and demand.

The minister also announced a pilot project approved by the ministry for the training of 40 workers in Tunisia, to be brought to Italy. However, this initiative does not fall under quotas decree, promoted by ANCE. This is the first project of this type thanks to the work entry reform promoted by the Government. This pilot project paves the way for a larger and more structured intervention for training in Tunisia and the entry into Italy of at least another 500 workers, financed through European resources and in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Three international NGOs accused Malta that once more neglected its legal obligations under the law of the sea and abandoned 14 migrants in distress at sea resulting into one death. Civil society groups Alarm Phone, Mèdecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Sea-Watch, all operating in the Central Mediterranean Sea, have documented blatant rights violations and are calling on Maltese authorities to put an end to Maltàs policy of systematically refusing to carry out rescue operations and deliberately putting lives at risk. The NGOs said that on the 22nd of June 2023, 14 people onboard a flimsy rubber boat sent a distress alert to the activist distress hotline Alarm Phone. They had left from Libya one day before and were adrift in the Maltese search and rescue region after having run out of fuel. “Malta – the responsible authority for that stretch of the sea – and Italy were immediately informed about the distress case,” said the NGOs, adding, “yet more than 36 hours passed between the first distress alert and the rescue of the boat by the MSF rescue vessel Geo Barents.” They stated that when the MSF ship arrived, people reported that one person had gone overboard and is believed to have drowned.

– Photo: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Latest official statistics has confirmed that Maltàs inflation is still higher than the average within the Eurozone, even though the annual rate has decreased to below 5% since March 2022. The annual rate of inflation in September was 4.9%, slightly down from 5% a month earlier. The National Statistics Office said the highest annual inflation rates were registered in food and non-alcoholic beverages (9.9%), and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (7.2%). The lowest annual inflation rates were registered in communication (-8.4%) and Transport (-0.4%). Compared to the euro area, Maltàs annual rate at 4.9%, was 0.6 percentage points above the 4.31% recorded for the euro area.
(ITALPRESS).
– Photo credit: Agenzia Fotogramma –

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg condemned the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola for visiting Israel and giving the impression the European Union is indifferent to the human catastrophe in Gaza.
“The EU is not solely represented by Roberta Metsola, nor does her presence alongside the Israeli president represent all EU institutions. There are multiple institutions within the EU, and Roberta Metsola represents only the institution that elected her as its president,” Borg said on the national television station.
Metsola visited Israel with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week in a show of solidarity with Israeli victims of Hamas. She accused Hamas terrorists of having pushed the prospect of lasting peace “further away”.
The Maltese foreign minister said the EU’s foreign policy is articulated by External Relations Commissioner Josep Borrell, who condemned the Hamas attacks but also criticized Israel’s response. Borrell did not visit Israel.
He condemned Hamas’s actions in Israel and acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself. But Borg insisted Israel had to respect international law.
-photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Italy is following with great attention and equal concern the current situation in the Middle East, a crisis which could cause serious repercussions on the stability of the region with the risk of an escalation in the Mediterranean. For this reason, the Defense and the Italian Government are working in an attempt to promote dialogue and peace. In this perspective Saudi Arabia plays a strategic role in the stabilization process of the entire area.”This was emphasized by the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto at the end of his visit in Saudi Arabia where he met his counterpart, Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz.
The two Ministers discussed current issues, highlighting the common commitment to strengthening dialogue and collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Italy. They also focused their discussion on the stability and security of all the Mediterranean region.
“The stabilization of the Sahel area and the all
the Mediterranean region represents a priority for security, and Italy, through highly inclusive and representative political dialogue, will continue to work to avoid further deteriorations of the current situation, especially in the Middle East, so that a “line of no return” is not crossed,” Crosetto said.
On the Sahel region he added: “The dynamics of the area are reflected on the European continent. The delicate situation is aggravated by demographic dynamics and the weakness of institutions, as well by the predatory posture of some international figures. This is why the Italian Government is promoting a renewed “Mattei Plan” which allows the countries of the region to exploit the natural riches at their disposal in order to increase the well-being of their population and strengthen their economies”.
Crosetto declared that Italy is ready to explore new areas of collaboration to increase the interoperability of the Armed Forces of the two countries for the benefit of security and stability in the Mediterranean area and the Arabian Gulf.
Currently there are already several Saudi officers carrying out training sessions in Italy, at the Military Academies, the flight schools of the Air Force or at the Centro Alti Studi of the Defence.
The meeting was also an opportunity to deepen the dialogue between the two countries and to thank the Italian Embassy staff “for the commitment aimed at strengthening friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and Saudi Arabia”.
Crosetto will be visiting Qatar for further official meetings.

– Photo press office ministry of Defence –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government will not be halting its development aid to Palestine, which includes supporting refugees and Palestinian students pursuing their studies at the University of Malta. This was declared by the Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg in view of the present conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas. Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister made Maltàs position clear during an extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, during which he insisted on the importance of not suspending EU development funds access to Palestinian civilians.
Last year, Malta donated a total of 84.950 euro in development assistance to Palestine: 80.000 euro was donated to the UNRWA, which cares for Palestinians and Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East, while the remaining 4.950 euro was allocated for a scholarship for a Palestinian student to pursue an undergraduate degree in international relations.
This year, the Maltese government increased its assistance to 124.000 euro: 75.000 euro in donations to UNRWA and 49.000 euro for two postgraduate academic scholarships at the University of Malta. Both Palestinian students have arrived in Malta and begun their studies.
– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltàs Parlament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has condemned the recent attacks against Israel by the terrorist group Hamas. During an emergency meeting that discussed Maltàs position on the recent attacks, all members agreed there is no justification for such an attack on Israel.
In his speech, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg explained that Israel has the unequivocal right to defend itself within the parameters of international law and in adherence to the rules of war and self-defence. However, the Committee considered the Nationalist Oppositions observation that “it is also an act of aggression, depriving the Gaza territory of food, water, medicine, and electricity”. Reacting to this statement, Minister Borg agreed but also recalled the hundreds of hostages that Hamas has in their possession. The committee agreed that Maltàs stance should include not only the condemnation of all attacks but also the call for the unconditional immediate release of hostages.
The committee also included a call for “a safe corridor” through Egypt for Gaza residents who wish or need to leave before they become victims of Israeli attacks. The Foreign Affairs Minister also pointed out that as an elected member of the UN Security Committee, Malta immediately called for an urgent meeting in response to the recent events. He said that the meeting took place on Sunday, with the clear message of condemning the attacks and upholding the right to defend. Borg disclosed that he had telephone conversations with the Israeli and Palestinian foreign affairs ministers. “The Palestinian minister acknowledged that Hamas is not the Palestinian Authority, and I conveyed Maltàs profound concern regarding the abduction and killing of innocent individuals. I emphasised that when innocent lives, including those of children, are lost, no distinction should be made, as such actions are equally condemnable,” Borg said.
Speaking of the decision of the European Union to stop all financial aid to Palestine, Borg clarified that the EU knows that collective punishment is not a viable solution to the ongoing conflict but is thinking of ways to help Palestinians financially without donations reaching Hamas.
(ITALPRESS).
– photo credit: Malta Parliament press office –

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The United States “is on Israel’s side, we will always defend you”. This reassurance was given by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
“This is the message I carry with me from Biden,” he added, guaranteeing that there is “bipartisan support for Israel” within the U.S. Congress. And “we are here to support Israel and your government”.
The head of US diplomacy said he was convinced that “Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and their legitimate expectations”. This despite the Islamic group governing the Gaza Strip “with repressive tactics”.
He then recalled that the United States is “providing ammunition to Israel, as well as other defense aid” and “other material is on its way.” “We will provide additional weapons and other support to help protect the Israeli population,” he added.
For his part, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, assured that “just as the Islamic State was destroyed”, the Palestinian movement Hamas “must be crushed”.
Speaking during the press conference with Blinken he said: “There will be difficult days, but the strength of civilization will win.” “It is a particular moment, in which we must be united against evil. Thanks to the United States for always standing by Israel”, he added.
In his speech, Netanyahu thanked Washington for its support in Israel’s war “against the barbarity of Hamas”. “Your visit,” added Netanyahu while addressing Blinken, “is another tangible example of the United States’ unequivocal support for Israel”.

– Photo Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews