Wednesday, 9th April 2008 - 11:54CET
Updated: Malta must remain neutral, Mifsud Bonnici insists
Former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, leader of the Campaign for National Independence (CNI) insisted today that Malta must retain neutrality in the Constitution.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said politicians who indicated that the Constitution could be changed should specify their reasons and say the truth.
He did not say who he was referring to.
A few weeks ago, Charles Mangion, acting leader of the Labour Party, said the party was open for “frank” discussions with the government on the Constitution, a comment which was welcomed by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, who said the government was “all ears”.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the government should say the truth, which was that it wanted to have the Constitution amended because the EU Lisbon Treaty, unanimously ratified by Parliament last year, included a clause which laid down that: “If a member state is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other member states shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their powers in accordance with article 51 of the United Nations Charter.” This, he said, was clearly in breach of Malta’s Constiuttion.
When it was pointed out to him that this clause also said that: “This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states,” Dr Mifsud Bonnici said Malta had no defence policy and therefore this did not apply.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the constitutional clause on neutrality rather than being weakened, actually needed to be strengthened by laying down that Malta would work for general disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
The former prime minister said Malta also needed to remain non-aligned and should not get closer to the United States. Rather than a cold war, what the world currently had was a real war, with the constant threat of terrorism and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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George Borg Olivier succeeded to make Malta a SOVEREIGN STATE, equal among all powers, without shedding one drop blood. And that is an achievement in itself. That couldn't be said for the large number of countries who fought for their Independence through out history.
Mr. Daley needs reminding that the Nationalist Party had no power nor desire to impose sin over those who read il-Helsien or voted MLP. On the contrary, the NP had its reservations about the action taken by the church since it argued that it was extremely divisive. And right it was otherwise there would not be such a lingering sour taste in the mouths of many such as Mr. Daley's.
As it turned out, however, the failure of Integration which would have sold our sovereignty for a pittance, turned out to be a Godsend.
It is very easy to judge Dr. Mifsud Bonnici based on prejudice and propaganda.
No one can say that he is not an honest Maltese who was cast at the deep end when he was appointed first, Designate Leader (in 1980) and then Leader of the MLP in late 1984.
The truth is that were it not for him, the country could have passed through more dire circumstances and these circumstances would not have been only due to certain elements in the MLP.
In addition to this, few - except those on the inside - knew of what the man managed to do in the period between 1987 and 1992 to deliver the Party to the state whereby the new leader was then able to forge a Party which contested successfully the 1996 elections.
Of course, his position on the EU and neutrality may be argued and disagreed with but no one can say that he does not have the right, the competence or the experience to put his position forward.
He should, indeed, be admired that in this small country of back stabbers and turncoats, we have people like him who are honest and coherent - even though not everyone may agree with them.