Alternattiva Demokratika has expressed its satisfaction at the signing of a memorandum of understanding on search and rescue in open seas between Malta and Libya.
Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Chairperson and candidate for the European elections said “This agreement should not only save various lives in the sea separating LIbya from Lampedusa, Sicily and Malta, but should also serve to crack down on the organized traffic of irregular migrants in our seas. All joint efforts of the Maltese, Libyan, Italian and EU authorities should be bent on destroying the illegal trafficking web that has been allowed to operate and proliferate comfortably for so many years.”
Among other things the Memorandum provides that both countries coordinate, cooperate and support each other to their possible utmost for Search and Rescue operations within their respective search and rescue regions (SRRs). Both sides also agreed to authorize their Rescue Coordination Centre to request assistance via the RCC of the other country and to provide all information on the distress situation in their respective Search and Rescue Region.
Furthermore, the Memorandum provides for drills so as to train their respective search and rescue organizations for inter-operability purposes, exchange of visits and training at the AFM SAR Training centre apart from periodic meetings of representatives of both sides to ensure continued, enhanced cooperation.