The President in Libya

Some time back in an interview, I was asked about how busy and effective are parliamentarians. My reply was that these can be the least effective and the least busy people in the country. On the other hand, you can find them working practically round the clock and contributing in no small way to the political and legislative process in the country. In fact, when a person occupies such a post everything depends on his particular drive and aspirations. A politician has to, practically, carve out the role he will come to play. This applies to other public officials and of how effective they will actually be will depend on their own initiative.

A classical example of all this are the responsibilities our President assumes in his tenure of office. On paper, and according to our Constitution, we read that all executive and legislative powers of the State are vested in the President. This, however, may give the wrong impression since in truth in exercising such powers, the President must act on the advice of others. This defines our President as a Constitutional head of state having more of a ceremonial role than anything else. In practice, however, there is enough leverage to allow the incumbent to redefine his position and play more of an influential part. Undoubtedly, any head of state inherently carries much clout and should definitely serve among other things as the country's top ambassador.

The latest trip our President made to Libya comes to my mind. In fact, if one had to characterise this particular delegation, I would characterise it as a stately mission. We have two very burning issues on the agenda with the Libyan Jamahiriya. These are undeniably the dilemma of irregular immigration and the topic of oil exploration. The latter has been a concern of ours for the best part of 30 years. With regard to both issues, we have been in deadlock with our neighbour for too long and therefore it is high time that these problems be resolved.

I read with interest that our President, Eddie Fenech Adami, in his significant meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, endeavoured to tackle one of these themes - that of oil exploration - and he did well. It is definitely in the interests of the country at large that we finally start drilling for this indispensable resource within the contested zone which seems to be the most promising, especially now that the price of fossil fuel has reached sky-high. To my mind the head of state is in an optimal position to spearhead such negotiations and this, as stated, on account of the high office he holds. It seems that such talks between the two heads of state could actually bear fruit in the not-too-distant future, though it must be conceded that the Libyan head of state is not the easiest to deal with as a counterpart.

For some time now, in fact, it has been argued that perhaps the best solution to the matter of oil exploitation would be a joint venture between the two countries within the contested zone. This on account of the fact that it has now become only too apparent that no side is willing to budge, and this notwithstanding the decision given by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) way back. Therefore the President did well to take the initiative and should in the future do the same in the national interest.

Indisputably, a very vital mission for our head of state would be one dealing with the overwhelming crisis we are facing with regard to irregular immigration. This is issue number two we have with Libya and which in the circumstances is unquestionably as important as the other one. Here too, the President would be given the thumbs up for using his unique position as the embodiment of the Republic and trying to intervene in the matter, since all else seems to have failed.

The only way this crisis can be brought to an acceptable conclusion is by diplomatic means, that is, a bilateral treaty between Malta and Libya and which should include the possibility of repatriation of illegal immigrants who would have departed from Libyan shores, and this to avoid our country having to be put in the extreme position of taking unilateral action.

Our Republic is a very young one indeed, and likewise the function of its head is still in an evolutionary process. Let us augur that future Presidents will have the stamina and be up to mark to strengthen this high office for the benefit of one and all.

Dr Herrera is Labour spokesman for justice.