Malta insists on oil exploration rights
Resources Minister George Pullicino has insisted in Parliament that Malta has the right for oil exploration in Area 7 south of Malta - the acreage granted for exploration to Heritage Oil, and the contract in therefore still in force.
Replying to a parliamentary question, the minister denied that Libyan leader Gaddafi had sent any letter of protest to Heritage Oil.
He said various meetings on this issue had been held with the Libyan government and protest letters had been sent.
Malta's view was that this was part of Malta's continental shelf and Malta enjoyed sovereign rights for oil exploration and exploitation in terms of international law.
He recalled that in 1980, after Libya stopped Texaco from drilling for oil for Malta on the Medina Bank, the case was referred to the International Court of Justice. However the court had not taken a decision on this particular site, after objections by Italy.
Malta's claims on Area 7 had been presented to the court and had not changed. Talks are underway with Libya and Italy, the minister said.
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E. Azzopardi
Jan 12th 2011, 19:03
If this is our right and we know for sure that this is our right, ( I repeated that) then we do not insist, but we take action and go all the way. ( I have heard that before so many times) So many years have passed and so much time has been lost!! This is so vital and important.
Ma ,fra il dire e il fare c'e mezzo mare!!!!
Ser inqumu fuq taghna jew????
Franco J Scicluna
Jan 12th 2011, 18:33
The only area where Malta can drill for oil is on her own dry land. WE are too small, to fight this problem alone.It will take years and years to finally see Malta's oil come to the surface from off shore drilling.
J S Borg
Jan 12th 2011, 15:49
Why on earth you are finding fault with ICJ for taking so long to decide when many times the maltese court of laws take ages and sometimes centuries, to conclude a court case.
Michael Vella
Jan 12th 2011, 15:12
Who needs friends when you got such good neighbours!
ASpiteri
Jan 12th 2011, 15:10
so we need to believe that a politician like George Pullicino will actually solve the disbute around oil explortation?!?!
the politician's history aside, oil exploration needs to be tackled by the foreign minister...and not the one on resources!
gaffarena joseph
Jan 12th 2011, 14:21
At last someone is showing interest about our resources.
Why not take this case to the international court with urgency,
to solve what it is ours.Talks wiyh libja have been going on for
years now,and all was waste of time.He have to start no matter
what the libjan govt,say,after all we have an agreement with other
european countries in caes there will be another 1980 show of force
by this dictator.
Area 7,is ours,and we have to begin exploring this area no matter if there
will be objections from italy and libja,their aim with these objections are only
a waste of time,for us not to begin exploring.
.
John Frendo
Jan 12th 2011, 17:59
The ICJ cannot be compared to a normal court because it will be judging between sovereign states who decide whether they want to go to the court or not while people have no choice if they are taken to court.
You cannot file a case with the International Court of justice unless both parties agree to observe the Court Judgment, otherwise you will only get a moral victory. Furthermore, the parties have to submit the points which they want the court to decide upon.
So before you comment please know the facts.
Carmel Cilia
Jan 12th 2011, 14:02
Come on Mr. Oullicino after more then thirty years out of which 23 years have been under your party's administration and still without an answer. If Malta which has no other resources has this rich mineral under its jurisdiction the government should have left no stone unturned. All this delay means that we did not do enough to get our rights. When we joined the E.U Fenech Adami assured us that we would not be alone. It now seems that it was all bla bla bla. The people cannot make head or tail out of this oil business. Of one thing I am sure come next election 'u il-gamblu jerga jkun hemm" Pero issa gbajna bil mutetti.
George Borg
Jan 12th 2011, 13:43
And funnily enough when our ministers meet with Gaddafi and berlusconi they act like they met with GOD....xi haga tinten hemm f dan iz-zejt!!!!!
I M Dingli
Jan 12th 2011, 13:40
Why do we always give in that easily?
Michael Borg
Jan 12th 2011, 13:33
referred to the International Court of Justice ,However the court had not taken a decision
at least not only in Malta court cases takes ages !!!! 1980 >> 2011 so far not bad
Christian Sciberras
Jan 12th 2011, 13:30
So that's why our Italian and Libyan friends are being so sweet with us...
Joe Portelli
Jan 12th 2011, 13:56
the whole island needs to stop playing games between PL and PN and WAKE up as foreign powers once again steal the future of this drastically narrow minded culture. No one, it seems to me, wants a future that may bring in some money, in case they are not in power when the funds come home. That typical of small nations.
C Refalo
Jan 12th 2011, 16:10
Totally agree with you, Mr Portelli.