Matthew Xuereb, Rome
Illegal migration in Gonzi - Berlusconi talks
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi today is expected to have his first official meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi since the latter won the country's general election last April.
Dr Gonzi will be meeting Mr Berlusconi at Palazzo Chigi, the office of the Italian Prime Minister, at about 1 p.m.
Following the meeting, expected to last about an hour, Dr Gonzi and Mr Berlusconi will address Maltese and Italian journalists in a joint news conference.
The two Prime Ministers are expected to discuss issues related to the situation in the European Union, but talks will most probably revolve around irregular immigration, which is affecting Malta more than other countries in the Mediterranean although Italy's Lampedusa is faced by the same problems.
They will almost certainly discuss the repatriation agreement signed by Italy with Libya that facilitates the return of irregular immigrants to Libya, from where most of them depart. Malta will probably seek Italy's assistance for the island to have a similar agreement.
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Franco Farrugia
Jul 24th 2008, 23:47
My sentiments, exactly, Mr J Micallef. Mr Grima is renowned for the way he praises il Cavaliere and prides himself to being his friend. So, why not address the issue personally?
And heaven help us if we have to have yet another mediocre Maltese Tv channel! We don't need more local rubbish in the airwaves, thank you very much. We are inundated enough, as it is!
J Micallef
Jul 24th 2008, 18:01
@Joe Grima
In your past writing you used to claim that you are very close to Berlusconi and he never forgets to send you his annual Christmas (or birthday) present. Maybe you can have a quick talk with him if you are that close.
However, I would dread the day when Canale 5 would be replaced by another mediocre and amateurish local channel like Smash.
Hands off Canale 5. Canele 5 is there to stay, and is not replaceable. And anyway, all this talk of TV signals is obsolete today, since TV stations are all changing their signals from analog to digital, which will accomodate much more channels.
I Abela
Jul 24th 2008, 13:09
I knew this would happen. And have already commented about it earlier. This is the last card Gonzi has to play. If a deal is not reached then we can kiss our rock goodbye. Interesting to know that Italy is one of the 7 most powerful and wealthy countries in the world. Hence a member of G7. However they said NO to ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION because it is economically unsustainable ever for a powerful country like Italy let alone a tiny country like Malta. Instead of trying to protect our country and citizens, our government is more interested in pleasing the EU. Now at least if Gonzi manages to make a deal with Berlusconi he could still throw the stone and hide his hand behind Berlusconi.
Joseph Caruana
Jul 24th 2008, 11:01
treating illegal immigration as a plague will only cause people to fear. Resolution should be based on human rights and dignity with open communication channels and debate with the countries willing to help. a copy of anti illagal immigration policy of other countries would definelty not be applicable to malta as it is a special case when compared to Italy and Slovenia. but lessons can be learned from them.
Joanne Micallef
Jul 24th 2008, 10:59
Everyone has to take care of their own, if Dr Gonzi keeps his eyes and most importantly his ears wide open he might pluck up the guts to follow suit and decide to finally address this issue in a serious manner.
Or else he can do like he usually does, plead our case....hear the usual empty words of solidarity and return to business as usual.
Joe grima
Jul 24th 2008, 10:39
The PM could also ask Berlusconi to vacate TV Channel 21 which Canale 5 have occupied illegally since the sixties. In 1992, before we applied for a TV licenese, we had talks with the Berlusconi people in Milano, To avoid a costly reconfiguration of their TV antennas on Monte Mario, they agreed on a joint possession of Channel 21 through a new channel that would have grouped the best Canale 5, our own Maltese programmes and programmes from the UK . They also committed to contribute with equipment from their own sources to assist us with the setting up of our own TV station and our Antennas if we obtained the TV license. .
The Broadacsting Authority of the time threw out the proposal because, they said, they did not want a tri-lingual channel in Malta. Smash TV later had a trilingial channel with Maltese and English programmes and imported (?) ttalian movies. Just as a matter of interst, our Constitutional case against the BA over our negated TV license, that goes back to 1993, is still in the Constitutional court 15 years later. Who's in a hurry? We're in the EU now.
Chris Borg
Jul 24th 2008, 10:09
Hope is the last to die .... sweet dreams L. Galea
L Galea
Jul 24th 2008, 09:12
Let's hope our Prime Minister asks for Berlusconi's advice and copy his anti-illegal immigration law to rid us of all the illegal immigrants that are on the island.