PN must continue to safeguard its principles - Tonio Borg

The Nationalist Party’s challenge is to safeguard its democratic and Christian values, adhering to them in a difficult period willingly and convincingly as it has done since 1880, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said this evening.

Addressing the PN’s general council, Dr Borg said that the Nationalist Party had to acknowledge what was good in society and progress.

He did not refer directly to divorce but said the PN had to determine what was in society’s best interest without being “dominated by any particular category or section of society”.

This, he said, was the party he believed in, a party which chose to belong to everyone, but especially those who needed the most assistance in society, assistance that would encourage them to grab the bull by the horns and take up opportunities.

Dr Borg said that the government, led by Lawrence Gonzi, was working tirelessly and in spite of the many challenges the work was bearing fruit.

In a world where people were losing their jobs, Malta was creating new employment. This was not an easy task and a lot more needed to be done because there remained people who were still seeking employment and others who wanted better jobs.

This government, the Foreign Minister said, has had to face four main challenges – the price of oil, the price of cereals, irregular migration, and the financial crisis. Results were being obtained but one had to continue working, and work even harder.

The government was continuously investing in its human resources through education and several measures had been taken in the budget to encourage more women to return to work and businessmen to increase competitiveness.

Politics, Dr Borg said, should be a tool for wealth creation.

The Foreign Minister also paid tribute to the late President Guido de Marco, who passed away a few weeks ago.

“Through his persuasion and perseverance, he had fought the threates to democracy and fought the fear of EU membership.

“This party will keep learning from Prof. De Marco to overcome challenges and keeping seeking the common good.”

The conference document, which contained three motions, was introduced by PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier.

He said that although some of the decisions taken by the PN government could not have been popular they were still taken because “the country’s interests come before those of the party”.

Dr Borg Olivier said that in the light of actions being taken by other countries, Malta should look at its results and continue to work on a strategy for the future.

The conference continues today with workshops and will be concluded tomorrow by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.