The Foreign Ministry today denied claims made by former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici that aspects of the Lisbon Treaty violated the constitutional provisions on neutrality and non-alignment. Dr Mifsud Bonnici made his claim during a press conference by the Campaign for National Independence (CNI).

He had said that the treaty provides 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.”

The ministry pointed out that issues of defence and security need unanimity in the EU and Malta could therefore refuse to participate in any military .

Furthermore, the treaty was not creating any alliance. Even if there was military aggression against an EU member state, it would be up to the Maltese government to decide if Malta was to intervene militarily to assist that member state.

The government said it was not proposing any amendments to the neutrality clause in the Constitution, and it was only the opposition which had indicated this, in view of the new international scenario.

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