Spain seeks to increase presence in Malta

"I see many opportunities for joint Maltese-Spanish diplomatic initiatives on EU and Mediterranean issues", the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Miguel Angel Moratinos, told The Sunday Times in an exclusive interview.

"From the outset, Spain warmly welcomed Malta's proposal to the German EU presidency for a permanent EU-Arab League dialogue," Dr Moratinos stated. (The proposal is on the agenda of tomorrow's European General and External Affairs Council, attended by foreign ministers).

"On the bilateral level, my visit highlighted many possibilities for Spain to increase its cultural and economic presence here. The University of Malta's decision to promote the teaching of Spanish is very good news. I am confident that I can increase the human resources to meet the related need for teachers."

In his speech during the degree conferment ceremony at the Jesuit church in Valletta, Dr Moratinos advocated the establishment of Euro-Mediterranean Community led by a heads of state or government council and served by a commission. This idea enjoyed the support of the south Mediterranean countries, he assured The Sunday Times.

"Of course, the idea needs to mature and be formally endorsed, but it will be discussed at the next '5+5' Mediterranean Forum informal meeting of foreign ministers in Crete on June 1 and 2" (to be attended by Dr Frendo).

High on the Mediterranean agenda is the problem of illegal immigration, with Malta and Spain at the forefront of countries facing the continued arrival of 'boat people'.

However, Dr Moratinos sees encouraging prospects for a holistic solution emerging from the Euro-African conference in Rabat last July - a Spanish-French-Moroccan initiative. "The Rabat process aims to promote a political dialogue with West African countries for a joint approach covering not only illegal flows but legal migration, the relationship between migration, and the development and integration of migrants in their country of destination."

The process initiated there had decreased flows of irregular immigrants, boosting co-operation with sub-Saharan states - to which should be added the launching last summer of Frontex maritime patrols.

"On June 21, Spain will be hosting the first follow-up meeting to review the Rabat Action Plan, to be attended by member states and by the 23 African states parties of the 2000 Cotonou Agreement" (a treaty between the EU and 64 Asian, African, Caribbean and Pacific former colonies of EU nations). "One of EU's principal interlocutors, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is working on a common position for this meeting - a reflection of the importance these countries attach to the process."

"The subsequent EU-African Union conference in Tripoli last November also launched a political dialogue with the entire African continent based on a holistic approach to migration".

Additional regional initiatives include the meeting on migration in Madrid last September of foreign and home affairs ministers of the eight Mediterranean EU member states to discuss the common management of maritime frontiers, as well as a Euro-Mediterranean ministerial conference on migration this November hosted by the Portuguese EU Presidency.

Also positive is the implementation of the EU's Global Approach to Migration adopted in 2005 and related council conclusions of last December on a European migration policy which emphasise the need to attack through development co-operation the root cause of illegal immigrant inflows and poverty.

Dr Moratinos came to Malta on his way home from Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Cyprus, and is optimistic about the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the problems in both areas. From 1996 to 2003, he was based in Cyprus as the EU's special representative for the peace process.

"I see new possibilities for reactivating the search for a Middle East settlement. The recent relaunching of the Arab initiative, the direct contacts between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and the determination of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to promote agreement, are all hopeful factors. The Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) must become fully involved, with a global approach addressing all the region's closely interrelated problems. I continue to advocate the convening of an international conference as the best way forward.

"Regarding Cyprus, Spain offers full support, while also advocating increased EU support to the on-going search for an end to the island's division. The agreements between President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat concluded under UN auspices last year have launched a promising process of 'technical committees' on daily life issues as well as preparations for talks on 'substantial questions'. EU regulations on financial aid and those to boost trade across the 'green line' are showing encouraging results."

Eastern Europe is another key focus of Dr Moratinos, as current chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). He recently suggested that the controversial US plans to situate anti-missile units in the Czech Republic and Poland, fiercely contested by Russia, should be debated within OSCE. So far, no agreement on such a debate has been reached.

However, Dr Moratinos emphasised that there is no 'new Russian threat'. "We have overcome cold war stereotypes," he said, "and to-day face global threats - terrorism, organised crime, environmental security issues."

Building bridges to Cuba (broken by the previous government) is central to Prime Minister Zapateros' proactive Latin American policy. Last month, Dr Moratinos visited Havana to "recover the dialogue with the Cuban government, badly damaged by the European Council's sanctions of 2003" (taken in response to Cuba's crackdown on dissidents, but lifted in 2005 on Spain's urgings).

"My trip consolidated Spain's two-track approach, (in fact reflecting an EU 1996 position) to talk to both the regime and the peaceful internal opposition." Dr Moratinos rejects media speculation about United States' reported 'outrage' at his visit, while admitting that approaches to Cuba differ.

"Cuba's future is for Cubans to decide, and their decision should be supported by outside countries, including the EU - where sharp differences of view admittedly remain. However, I am confident that an EU consensus will emerge, allowing for a full normalisation of relations. Otherwise the EU's potential for policy action will remain unused and its influence will disappear."