Andreotti gives Borg Olivier memorial lecture

Italian senator Giulio Andreotti - who had only a few days earlier been acquitted by the Court of Cassation which overturned his 24-year jail sentence for allegedly ordering the murder of a journalist in 1979 - last Monday was invited to give this year's George Borg Olivier memorial lecture.

The lecture has been organised jointly, for the past ten years, by the Academy for the Development of a Democratic Environment (AZAD) and the Fondazzjoni Gorg Borg Olivier.

Dr Borg Olivier, who led Malta to independence in 1964, was prime minister between 1950 and 1955 and from 1962 to 1971. He died on October 29, 1980, aged 69.

The lecture was held at the Auberge d'Aragon in Valletta, which was Dr Borg Olivier's office as Prime Minister.

Senator Andreotti, who is 84, was seven times prime minister of Italy at the head of Christian Democratic-led governments. During his nearly 60-year political career he has also served as minister, including foreign minister, several times. He was made life senator in 1991.

His last visit to Malta was in 1991, when he opened AZAD's new premises in Valletta.

In his introduction, AZAD chairman Ranier Fsadni said they had decided to ask a foreign speaker to give the Borg Olivier memorial lecture, and they also wanted to give it an international dimension.

Indeed, in his lecture, Senator Andreotti traced the development of the European Union, which had been mooted by his political mentor, Alcide de Gasperi, after the war, through Franco-German understanding, the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, the adoption of the euro as a single currency, and next May's enlargement with the admission of ten new members, including Malta.

Senator Andreotti said he never doubted the legitimacy of Malta's candidancy to join the EU. He said Malta and Italy shared a common history, going on to trace decades of bilateral relations. At one stage he remarked that it was ironic that Socialist Prime Minister Dom Mintoff found greater support from a Christian Democratic government in Italy than from a Labour government in Britain.

Senator Andreotti also referred to the problem of illegal immigrants and urged support to help poor countries develop. Unfortunately, he remarked, the end of the Cold War has meant the end of aid by superpowers to Africa and the third world.

The lecture attracted a capacity audience. It included President de Marco, the Prime Minister, Dr Fenech Adami, Cabinet ministers, former President Censu Tabone, the Italian Ambassador, Dr Alvise Memmo, and Dr Borg Olivier's widow, Mrs Alexandra Borg Olivier, and his son Peter.

Senator Andreotti was accompanied by his wife during his short visit to Malta, during which he stayed at San Anton Palace as guest of President de Marco.