Integration of immigrants

Reading Harry Vassallo's article (Multicultural Malta) I failed to comprehend whether he actually writes such articles just to spite Alleanza Nazzjonali Repubblikana and Imperium Europa or whether he really believes that the Maltese do not watch or read any foreign news at all. What ANR, which is a moderate right-wing movement, wants to preserve is our right as Maltese citizens to continue to feel at home on our beautiful but tiny island. All those who watch the foreign news know exactly why most of the wars that were fought in the past 10 years occurred. Most of the Maltese people have also plenty of occasion to converse with tourists, and somehow most of the tourists explain how they had to "give up" whole neighbourhoods as it was not safe anymore for the locals to continue to live there.

May I also remind Dr Vassallo that the integration of immigrants into European societies has become a big issue at the EU level as well, this mainly following the terrorist attacks in London and Madrid, which led to a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment across the continent. French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy suggested EU member states demand that would-be immigrants sign a "contract" requiring them to learn the language of their adopted country and accept its social norms - or risk being expelled. This initiative had very positive feedback from both the UK and Germany, and ministers of the six biggest EU countries agreed to investigate how to draw up such a contract.

Since many countries have been experiencing problems due to huge cultural differences, several European countries have however already introduced control measures for immigration, such as language tests and tougher visa and border rules. In Denmark, immigrants who arrive in the country for marriage have to be 24 years old - a tailor-made rule aimed at preventing forced marriages among the large Muslim immigrant minority. The Netherlands have gone a step further, introducing new entry laws that require potential immigrants to take not only language but also "culture" exams in order to live in the country. To prepare immigrants for Dutch liberal society, possible newcomers have to watch a film picturing a sunbathing topless woman, gay men kissing and the immigrant "ghettos" that may await immigrants coming into the country.

So after I have stated all these facts, I hope that Mr Vassallo now understands that ANR are not the racist bigots he and others like to portray them to be, but a group of Maltese citizens who could not stay put and let their beloved country face huge problems in the future, due to an imbalance in our culture. Migration definitely yes, but a controlled one. ANR speaks through facts and not opinions, about what other countries, far greater than us in size, are experiencing. Their experiences give ANR and people like me the incentive to carry on with our work against illegal immigration. Our aim is to pressure the government to take a harsher stand against this problem and not to incite racial hatred towards those illegal immigrants who end up on our shores.

We as common citizens must do our part in helping genuine refugees to integrate. It is our duty, for as Christians we are compelled to feel compassion. The government, on the other hand, has other obligations to fulfil, the main one being to look out for our best interests and to safeguard the life and future of those who have entrusted it with their future as a nation.