I read with interest the editorial entitled Sarkozy Or Frendo? (June 9).
The editorial quite rightly pointed out that the new French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, "would not let much grass grow under his feet once he took his oath of office". An initiative taken by Mr Sarkozy is to "persuade countries lapping the Mediterranean to come together and to establish a Council that will have a rotating presidency".
The editorial continues stating; "It is also prophetic in the sense that history has shown time and time again the vital role the Mediterranean has played, often bloodily, in the often dramatic history of the regions that surround this sea. That we must strive for a meeting of minds between these countries, should be self-evident; arriving at a meeting of minds is another thing, hence, the element of audacity in Mr Sarkozy's proposal. Malta should welcome it".
Malta indeed welcomes it. The more so in that it was Malta that originally, as far back as 1990, proposed the setting up of a Council of the Mediterranean. In Algiers, in 1990, at the 5+5 Meeting, and later in the Malaga Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I advanced the idea of a Council for the Mediterranean, drawing inspiration from the methods and practices of the Council of Europe. Malta's proposal envisaged a framework of cooperation whereby, through non-rigid arrangements, one could achieve a setting for the development of a common understanding.
Within the philosophical rationale of such a Council, Malta proposed that one could address, through an ongoing dialogue, problems such as ethnic friction, population explosion, environmental degradation, intolerant fundamentalism, migration and root causes of tension.
The Council for the Mediterranean as proposed by Malta was aimed at establishing a forum for dialogue, which, on a regular basis, promotes not only ministerial and parliamentary meetings but convenes, as appropriate, non-governmental organisations, bringing about a people-to-people approach. It seeks to identify a structure best suited to provide a linkage of dialogue in substitution of the great divide which could otherwise result.
It was further stated in the editorial that "the genesis of his proposal (Mr Sarkozy's), one needs to add, has its start in the mid-1990s, when a Barcelona process was put in motion by the EU".
As one can see, the genesis of this proposal lies with a Malta initiative, preceding the Barcelona meeting of November 1995 by five years, when I addressed the said Euro-Med Conference.
In my key note address to the Barcelona meeting, speaking on behalf of my government, I reiterated this proposal: "We have been calling for the setting up of a Council of the Mediterranean/an Association of Mediterranean States; it is with a sense of responsibility that we pass to this gathering the message of the 3rd Inter Parliamentary Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean, held in Valletta early this month, proposing the establishment of an Association of Mediterranean States, comprising a government branch and a parliamentary branch to advance and achieve the Mediterranean cooperation prospect".
In August 1996, in addressing the annual ambassadors' conference, I told my ambassadors: "Our longer term aim remains the creation of a permanent recognisable forum in the shape of an Association or Council of the Mediterranean, which will provide the opportunity for Mediterranean countries to consult regularly together at inter-governmental, parliamentary and other levels, on all aspects relating to the security and prosperity of their region".
President Sarkozy has to be congratulated at having put, as one of the main aspects of his foreign policy, the creation of this Council of the Mediterranean. It will serve to ensure that the littoral states of this mare nostrum, develop further together their common interest, their common concerns and their common heritage.
The genesis of this proposal is not that relevant. What is relevant is that the proposal becomes a reality.
In the editorial, the impression was given that there could be a conflict between Mr Sarkozy's proposal and Foreign Minister Michael Frendo's suggestion for a structured dialogue between the EU and the Arab League. There is no conflict between the two. Indeed, such a structured dialogue can only help in giving more relevance to the Council of the Mediterranean. This is further underlined by the fact that two important countries in the Southern Mediterranean littoral do not form part of the Arab League - Turkey and Israel. The aim of this Council of the Mediterranean should also be that of creating a stability pact for the Mediterranean.
In addressing the Euro Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona, in November 1995, I stated: "We do not cease being Europeans or Arabs or belonging to the Middle East if the Mediterranean is treated as a region with its own personality. We believe that the peoples of the Mediterranean have an option. Maintain the Mediterranean as a great divide bordering the sea with security organisations, but generating suspicions to the other riparian states, or creating the necessary mechanisms on the horizontal, aimed at enhancing the stability of the Mediterranean. Some still ask: What is the Mediterranean? It is more than a sea. More than a highway".
This was said almost 12 years ago. It is valid also today. With this important difference, that this time France is shouldering the responsibility to make of this idea a reality.
We in the Mediterranean should strongly support it.