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Interview: Narrowing development gap will help find long-term solution to refugee crisis: Maltese official

Xinhua, November 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

As dozens of European leaders and African leaders gather here to discuss ways to cope with the refugee crisis, former Maltese ambassador to China Joseph Cassar on Wednesday told Xinhua narrowing the gap in development would help facilitate the long-term solution to the crisis.

Cassar said the two-day Valetta summit that started here Wednesday would help leaders deal with current situation in Iraq, Middle East and Syria, and also mull the development issue in Africa.

Due to its geographical location, Malta was seen as a stepping stone by some people in north Africa to transit for European countries to seek asylum. As many people died in shipwrecks on their way from Africa to Europe, the European leaders in April this year proposed to convene this summit to tackle refugee related issues.

"Nobody likes to leave his son. If I have a good job, and if I have enough to feed my family, I remain in my own country," he said.

When commenting on reports that the refugee crisis was rooted in some countries' interference into others' internal affairs, Cassar said that the experience in the past, especially that in the latest ten years, has shown that quick fixes never work.

Cassar called for all parties in conflict areas to return to the negotiating table, stating complex situations require complex solutions, and that military intervention does not help.

He also urged cooperation among the international community to limit the arms flow -- especially that of machine guns -- and to crack down corruption and drugs trafficking.

Cassar said he was positive about solving the refugee crisis through dialogue, noting every party's efforts could help provide solutions. He warned, however, that the Valletta summit would not solve every problem.

Over the last few months, the EU has been confronted with unprecedented numbers of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe. The Valetta Summit was called by the European Council in April 2015 to discuss migration issues with African and other key countries concerned. Endit