‘Syria must not be allowed to become another Iraq’ – Muscat

International powers seeking a solution to the Syria crisis must not allow the war-torn country to become “another Iraq”, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat warned.

Responding to questions at the end of a press conference, Muscat said that the Iraqi administrations formed after the 2003 invasion proved to be non-inclusive, “a shortcoming whose after-effects are still being felt to this day”.

He refused to comment on whether Syrian president Bashar-al Assad should form part of a long-term solution to stability in the country, a possibility that UK Prime Minister David Cameron adamantly ruled out earlier today.

Instead, Muscat said that Malta will play in its part in bringing “legitimate” Syrian factions to the table “as per Malta’s legacy”.

“Malta will respect its constitutional neutrality, while not remaining neutral to terror,” he said. “Unfortunately, military action is required against ISIS in Syria, but it is not my role to interfere in the debate as to whether Assad should stay or go.”

Australia’s new prime minister also addressed the press conference, but he refused to answer journalists’ questions related to his stance on Assad’s future.

“Australia is the second largest military contributor to the [US-led] fight against Da’esh (sic),” Turnbull said. When pressed on his opinion on Assad, Turnbull simply smiled as a moderator cut the question short.

On Libya, Muscat called for the imposition of sanctions on the people within the rival Tobruk and Tripoli governments who are opposing a national unity government.

“Everybody knows who these people are, and they should be given an ultimatum – to agree to a unity government or face sanctions,” he said.

He described Libya as a “chimera”, with the volatile situation on the ground liable to change from one day to the next.

“UN peace talks in Libya have not yet produced any tangible results, and the international community’s patience is running thin,” he warned. “At this stage, most sides must get their act together, and realize that they must both make concessions to reach a solution for a unity government. The time will soon come for a moment of reckoning in Libya.”