CNI 'four-square' behind MLP on EU

The anti-EU membership lobby group, the Campaign for National Independence (CNI) was "four-square" behind the Labour Party where it concerned the European Union, its new chairman, Professor Albert Leone Ganado, said.

"The Labour Party is offering a better alternative than membership, and we are prepared to give all our support to convince as many people as possible to say 'no' to the EU," Professor Leone Ganado explained.

A CNI delegation, led by Professor Leone Ganado, yesterday called on Opposition Leader Alfred Sant at MLP headquarters in Hamrun.

Professor Leone Ganado recently succeeded Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, who resigned to join former Labour prime minister Dom Mintoff in the Front Maltin Inqumu.

He claimed that the EU wanted to exploit Malta's ideal position in the centre of the Mediterranean.

"For the EU, we are an island of geo-political interest, perfectly positioned to suit its defence plans," Professor Leone Ganado said.

He said the CNI had united those who believed that EU membership would be a threat to sovereignty, neutrality and identity.

"CNI members come from different sectors of society and from different political backgrounds. But they have only one aim: they want their country to remain free," he said.

Professor Leone Ganado said the CNI believed in the skills of the Maltese, without any need for foreigners.

Many micro-states were economically and politically successful simply because they had exploited their flexibility, he said.

Professor Leone Ganado criticised the government and the EU who, he said, were using their resources to campaign for membership. This, he claimed, was threatening democracy.

Dr Sant agreed with this, and said this was why he believed that the Maltese should decide about their future through a general election.

The Labour Party looked favourably on the CNI, adding that there were issues on which the two sides agreed and others on which they disagreed.

The MLP did not believe that everything was wrong with the EU, Dr Sant said.

"There is some good in the EU, and the MLP believes that every country should have the best relationship with it," the Labour leader said.

On the other hand, the CNI has always had a hostile attitude towards the EU.

Dr Sant said Malta should strike a "partnership" with the EU, an agreement which is anchored on different levels of co-operation.

A number of countries have managed to secure such a relationship, Dr Sant claimed.

The CNI delegation is expected to call on President Guido de Marco tomorrow.