All facts on Israeli role documented and witnessed, Austin Gatt insists

Transport Minister Austin Gatt insisted all the “facts” he attributed to the Israeli company Bateman and the country’s ambassador connected with the controversial Delimara power station were all “documented and witnessed”.

Israeli Ambassador Gideon Meir and Bateman – an Israeli company that had unsuccessfully bid for the extension tender – did not deny any of the facts listed by Dr Gatt, his ministry said yesterday.

He was reacting to statements made in The Sunday Times by Israeli Ambassador Gideon Meir who denied Dr Gatt’s “false accusations” that he, or any other Israeli representative, had threatened any Maltese official.

During a parliamentary Public Accounts Committee meeting last Tuesday, Dr Gatt accused Israel of dangling a double taxation avoidance agreement as a “carrot” for the government.

Dr Gatt said while Bateman had accused BWSC of unlawful political assistance and insider information, evidence given before the National Audit Office showed it was the Israeli company that had resorted to such tactics.

Dr Gatt said he was very careful at “first setting out the facts, then drawing conclusions” in Tuesday’s committee meeting.

Turning to Mr Meir’s denial, Dr Gatt said it was a fact he had said the Labour Party had good contacts with Bateman and the matter would embarrass the government. This had been raised by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat in a meeting with Mr Meir, he said.

It was also a “fact” that the director of Bateman was a former Finance Minister, a friend of the present one, and could help in the negotiations in the double taxation agreement, he said. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his head of secretariat were present when these statements were made so the Israeli Ambassador could hardly deny them, Dr Gatt said.

Furthermore, there was evidence in the files of the Auditor General, he added.

Dr Gatt said Bateman could not deny trying to involve Dr Gonzi before the power station extension contract was awarded.

Bateman presented a “political brief” during the tender process and minutes of a meeting between their agent and Malta’s Permanent Representation “show that their agent claimed Bateman had insider information, made subtle threats and stated that they had lobbied with MEPs”.

Not one of such facts was denied by Bateman and the Auditor General had also acknowledged that Bateman used diplomatic channels to further their interests, Dr Gatt said.