Swedish minister urges Malta to turn problems into opportunities

Moses Mula

Apr 17th 2009, 12:32

Using the Malmö incidents, which happened a long time ago, is like pointing out all the political turmoil of the 80´s in Malta to prove that Malta is engulfed by political unrest. But that is not true, and that goes for the immigrant situation in Malta. An example of an opportunity, Kevin Borg were his talents were either never discovered in his own country, or no one was able to develope them or care about them. After a few months in Sweden he not only was discovered as an artist, but sold more albums than I bet Mary Spiteri and Chiara put together, ( AND HIS CAREER HAS ONLY STARTED). This gives an opportunity to Kevin to make it as an artist, and the Swedish economy to benefit. Another example is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, son of a croat and bosniak immigrant, who bythe way grew up in Malmö. And of course all the thousands of first or second generation of immigrants who through their jobs contribute to the Swedish economy. But maybe you know more about Sweden than the minister, who knows. Hundred thousand immigrants reached Sweden only in 2008, and more than one million are not even born in Sweden.

Jos Vella

Apr 17th 2009, 09:06

@Moses Mula: I tend to agree with Gay Rights and maybe with divorce...but man!! come one...with abortion???? your ancestor, the other Moses was spared his life and put in a cannister on the Sinai and then 2300 years or so later Moses says Yes to abortion?? come on man!! And by the way if you are seeing and reading this message thank your mum, because if she had aborted you... addio democracy. And Democracy and Abortion..do they go together after all? Good day my friend, and open your eyes.

J.Pace

Apr 17th 2009, 08:21

IS This the HELP that the PM was expecting from our EU wonderland ?

Wake you !!

- we as Malta - have to start taking care of this problem - no one in EU wants these kind of problems - US is taking more immigrants than EU (the contries that signed to help us).

J Spiteri

Apr 17th 2009, 07:25

we maltese are very kind people and we would like to offer this big opportunity to the Swidish people....so take some of our immigrants and grab this big opportunity

A Vella

Apr 16th 2009, 21:03

it is interesting to know whether she is reflecting the view of the majority of the Swedish or merely her own or that of the UNHCR. We would be willing to share some of our opportunity potential- she can take a thousand if she wants

Chris Tanti

Apr 16th 2009, 20:09

I wouldn't take any advice from the Swedes. A close look at Malmo reveals deep problems that will not be solved. According to Jens Orback, Sweden has to be tolerant with immigrants so that when immigrants rule Sweden, they will be tolerant with the native Swedes.

I don't know what you people think, but I don't like this defeatist way of thinking and we're still in time to avoid this kind of mess.

Moses Mula

Apr 16th 2009, 19:31

@Charles Sammut, this happened in response to Israel´s hostilities inside Palestine a few weeks before. Protests happened allover the world, not just in Sweden. And I could not help notice that you took this article from a christian site. Says it all I guess. No need to add anything to that even if I am dying to. As I said, I have been living in Sweden for ten years and integration works. I live here mate, so do not play the know it all with me, as I experience things first hand. In fact when I studied swedish my classmates came from 5 different continents and those I am still in touch with work or study and have integrated. Malmö´s problems are that their is still a bit too much segregation but that is not entirely anyones fault really. And yes, integration comes from both sides. It takes an open mind and tolerance, but friend , you do not have to integrate. But in twenty years time if a doctor whose parents were reffuges is the only one who can attend to you at a particular time, you either have opened your mind or you would prefer to die.

Michael Neville Cassar

Apr 16th 2009, 19:10

We are getting the good and the bad from the EU as commented, first most of the EU countries sold arms , and took other resource's from Africa and now these same want to lecture us how to patch up the problems that have been created by their mismanagement

Malta cannot afford any quantity of illegal or legal persons, the island is highly congested with people, cars, and horribly over built, and jobs are scarce. So to whom it may concern do not say or give us stupid ideas, anyway my Vote is for that EU. MP who says OUT with illegal persons.

T. Pace

Apr 16th 2009, 18:16

Dear Swedish Minister,

Thank you for your lecture.

May I ask whether you would be informing your Parliament and electorate what you have stated regarding the illegal immigrants?

I also suggest that your government informs the EU Parliament of the trade opportunies that the immigrants in your country have created so that we could pull out faster of the recession.

d. zammit

Apr 16th 2009, 17:40

just imagine a Maltese Embassy in Somalia. ha ha ha.

c.camilleri

Apr 16th 2009, 16:11

Is this the help that this Swedish Minister is proposing for Malta when Sweden takes over the EU's Presidency?

M. Mercieca

Apr 16th 2009, 16:04

@ Albert Spiteri

On Friday, 14th December 2007 MEP Dr. John Attard Montalto wrote a factual article that may interest those who seriously wish to be aware of the core problem of Africa. Here I quote a paragraph - (The scramble for Africa has started all over again. In the colonial period, European nation-states competed between themselves. After World War II, the US permitted Europe to continue to dominate the continent, on the reckoning that the boost to the European economies would boost trade with the US itself.)…..
As you can see, the immigrants issue is a European design and we being victimized in between.

@ All

- Was Sweden part of the USA-lead forces that bombarded Iraq to the Stone Age and now stealing Iraqi’s resources?

- The Cross quest: In EU constitution we have no ref for God. So, I don’t see what immigrants should be blamed for that.
What would have been our reaction if what’s being said by the Swedish minister is being said by a Libyan minister?

Charles Sammut

Apr 16th 2009, 14:43

@ Moses Mula

What you have described is that the Swedes are integrating with the immigrants and not the other way round. Thanks, but no thanks.

You must be living in a different Sweden than the one I am referring to. This article on CBN is 4 weeks old.

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/556299.aspx
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/what-muslim-immigration-has-done-to-sweden/1005158472/?icid=VIDURVNWS12

Open your eyes.

M Asciaq

Apr 16th 2009, 14:41

I sincerely expected a much better showing from a Swedish minister.

Let's brace and pray for yet another wasted 6 months in the EU, this time under the "my-rubbish-doesn't-stink, so-sort-out-your-own-rubbish-yourselves" Swedish presidency. This comes hot on the heels of the "we-don't-like-the-EU-because-it-doesn't-work-so-we-don't-care" Czech Presidency.

My question at this point is: How many 6-month terms do we have to wait for and waste until the EU helps us effectively? If one is too dumb to think of a proper solution, see the USA's response in the next article, which comes with much less funfare, and much more action.

This is our greatest problem, but after all it is a problem we are sparing the EU.

Moses Mula

Apr 16th 2009, 13:42

To add to my comment, the problem with integration and immigrants in Malta is not mainly about size but the hostility and fear of different cultures shared by a few Maltese. You might attack Sweden´s policies all you want, but than again it happens the Swedish cabinet includes a black woman who is daughter to two immigrants. Proves that Sweden happens to be more tolerant. And yes,@Jos Ellul, abortion, divorce and even gay adoption are legal, although I find it hard to understand why you make it sound like something negative when all it spells is freedom and equal rights. Sweden is not christian but Lutheran, so crosses are not found in places like classes is not mainly not to offend other religions. But you do not seem very open to equal rights for everyone as your statement suggests. That is called democracy my friend, a word not very much understood in Malta, but just taken for granted.

D. Borg

Apr 16th 2009, 13:25

'He said that while turning immigration into opportunities was a possibility and could be part of the solution, the sheer number of immigrants made this difficult.' -

Can Minister Tonio Fenech enlighten us what these 'opportunities' are?

Moses Mula

Apr 16th 2009, 13:24

@Charles Sammut, you took an event that happened a long time ago to prove that integration does not work in Sweden. As someone who has been living in Sweden for the past 10 years I can assure you first hand that apart from the odd incident, integration is doing fine and that is because there is a healthy structure like free language training, job training, financial help and such. This turns these immigrants into workers who will later contribute to the Swedish economy by taking jobs and paying taxes. Its not like all the immigrants who come to Sweden are from Iraq. In fact a large number of them are Kurds, but there is also a huge ammount who come from countries like Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Bangladesh and many other countries. In the 60´s, when there was a lack of workers, Sweden took a lot of Italian and other European immigrants, so this is nothing new to Sweden. I myself have learned swedish thanks partly to the school being free. Sweden might be huge, but people cant live in every part of Sweden due to weather conditions and that more than half of Sweden is forest.

I M Dingli

Apr 16th 2009, 12:37

So the Dr. is suggesting we start some form of business in the country of origin of these illegal immigrants..... the only business which would really be profitable would be human trafficking!! Thanks for the tip Dr. Bjorling.

Albert Spiteri

Apr 16th 2009, 12:32

Min. Tonio Fenech should have asked Swedish Trade Minister about how many millions in arms sales Sweden gained from Africa these last 50 years. Sweden is amongst those most guilty for today's African human tragedy and its consequences upon Malta. Do we need this Swede lecturing us on challenges and opportunities?
Today nobody gives much credit to what Sweden says in this respect. For years, its Government has been a vocal champion of peace and disarmament, a stand that (say they) is a source of national pride! Meanwhile Sweden finds itself embroiled in arms-trading scandals that underline the ''Swedish paradox'' of a pacifist country with a thriving weapons industry dependent on exports. The situation raises questions about Swedish adherence to its stated principles and international commitments.
Minister Tonio Fenech should have jumped up and reminded this Swede that we need no lecturing from the likes of her, we know what our national interests are and we can, just as much as they, flout any international obligation that goes against our national interests. Just as much as they.

g. scerri

Apr 16th 2009, 12:28

Please PM, send this Swedish lady on a helicopter tour of the island same as you did Jacques Barrot. She might understand better what she is talking about.

Sandro Pace

Apr 16th 2009, 12:13

A trade delegation for Somalia anyone? Should be on the new President's agenda. With special reference to take the AFM Maritime Squadron as trade protection.

Illegal immigration is no trade ministry affairs. We are not just 'economic' beings. Though well done to the minister for disagreeing. It's easy to comment coming from such a spacious country.

The only trade that we see is the slave trade, and we are not only getting nothing, but losing land in the process.

T Pace

Apr 16th 2009, 11:47

Dear Swedish Minister,

Do you wish to take us for a ride? Whom do you think you are kidding?

Can you enlighten us what skills the illegal immigrants have that we could turn into opportunities? Piracy?

If your country is happy to turn their skills into opportunities, why don't you take a few thousand with you

Anthony Meilaq

Apr 16th 2009, 11:34

I really admire the Swedish minister's absolutely selfless enthusiasm and altruism to keep the illegal immigration "opportunities" STRICTLY CONFINED TO MALTA.

Blimey, I almost want to cry for joy. Could there be any greater solidarity than this in EU life?

Stephen Vella

Apr 16th 2009, 11:33

Yes That is a very good Idea !! Maybe the Somalis that we have here can help us in opening businesses in Somalia. Very interesting, perhaps selling AK-47's.

simon james schembri

Apr 16th 2009, 11:30

LOL...perhaps we should trade with the pirates in Somalia....pastizzi, qubbajt and Kinnie for Kalashnikovs and RPGs.

Thanks to open borders immigration, the Swedes risk becoming the first Aborigines in Europe.

Jos Vella

Apr 16th 2009, 11:09

2/2
What Dr Björling failed to mention is that Sweden does not care less about Religion, abortion and the way people in the society live; I cannot say that I am a religious person, but it bothers me to have to remove the cross because an individual who intruded in my home country, managed to get the same rights of my kids by attending the same school simply does not believe in the same God! Dr Björling, if your country has turned such problems into opportunities than Malta can help you boost further this new market and provide you with the man power, after all illegal immigrants had mistaken Malta with Italy in the first place.
YES we are in the EU but with all due respect people like Dr Björling must not jump in our country's businesses. Population is Sweden is 9,234,209 and size of sweden is 449,964km2 hence 20 people living in a km2. Malta has 410,290 people and size of Malta is 316km2 hence we 1300 people living is a km2 . So Dr Björling , THALLATX IL-HASS MAL-PITRAVI!!

Jos Vella

Apr 16th 2009, 10:59

1/2
Can Dr Björling tell the difference between Iraqis and illegal immigrants? The way I see it is:-
Iraqis came from a country which traded in oil and had as well businesses in it. Iraqis were business men at one point. Illegal immigrants fled their countries either because there is war or merely because they are looking after a better life (eg Egyptians..I cannot recall that there is any war except for the tension that exists between Egypt and Israel over the Sinai).
And who said that illegal immigrants do not have networks? They do indeed!! Infact thanks to the network an illegal immigrant makes it safely to Malta and then a year later his family will join him.

d. borg

Apr 16th 2009, 10:58

Dear Swedish Minister, I can see nothing positive or any opportunities arising out of the illegal immigration situation. We'll be happy to send them all to Sweden so you can benefit fully from the positive things you are mentioning. Ma ndahqux!

lgalea

Apr 16th 2009, 10:04

The Swedish Dr Björling should take all our illegal immigrants and use their expertise to Sweden's benefit.

Charles Sammut

Apr 16th 2009, 09:49

I understand the need for diplomatic language in circumstances such as these. But that is not a licence for bending the truth beyond breaking point.

If one were to search "Malmo immigrants" on youtube.com, the opportunities and expertise which immigrants have brought to Sweden take on a different perspective.

Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling was simply telling us nicely that we will have to lump it.

Now who was it that said that "Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell and actually having him look forward to the trip"?