Editorial

The way Libya has been treating Malta over offshore oil exploration rights is humiliating. And Italy and Tunisia have not been quick to respond to the island’s pleas over rights and exploration either. Years of efforts on the part of successive Maltese governments to move ahead in oil exploration have not yielded any concrete results, even though the island boasts of having the best of relations with the three countries. In fact, Malta has only had disappointments in its oil exploration drive and the worst part of the story is that, with all the promises of breakthroughs made by successive governments, there are no outward indications that matters are expected to change any time soon.

None of the countries contesting areas claimed by Malta seems to be in a hurry to come to any sort of agreement with the island and the government does not seem to have the necessary clout to ensure things get moving. True, claims over offshore exploration rights are not matters that can be dealt with overnight. But one would expect that countries professing excellent relations among each other, as Malta, Libya, Tunisia, and Italy do, would seek to settle differences without undue loss of time.

Malta’s bitter experience with Libya, a country whose people were once described by former socialist Prime Minister Dom Mintoff as blood brothers, stands out in the island’s story of offshore oil exploration. Even so, enough time has now passed since Libya unceremoniously kicked Malta out of part of the oil-bearing Medina Bank and the judgment of the International Court of Justice at The Hague over the median line for that country to adopt a different attitude and, at least, agree on joint exploration efforts. The end result of all this is that the possibility for the island to strike oil in potential oil-bearing areas is being put off for an indeterminate number of years, when an oil strike could make a significant difference to its economic and social well-being.

One question arises out of all this: Is Malta defending its rights vigorously enough? The impression given over the years is that it is not. The issue with Tunisia may be difficult to go into right now and would probably have to wait until well after the dust settles following the jasmine revolution that has spawned a much greater revolution in Egypt and which is now creating so much tension elsewhere in the Middle East.

Malta would have certainly expected greater progress to be made with Italy, which, through an agreement with Libya, has managed to stop the inflow of illegal immigrants to its shores and, indirectly, to Malta as well. Ironically, Italy is now facing another huge immigration problem – of Tunisian nationals. This, and unrest in some places in Libya, puts Malta on high alert again.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has just been to Libya and on his return it was said that, as expected, the issue over oil exploration rights had also been bought up. According to Dr Gonzi, both sides are hoping for a solution to the problem and a technical meeting is to be held in Libya next month, though unfolding events there may force this to pe put off . The country has heard of hopes and promises of breakthroughs so many times few take such declarations at face value. In fact, the talks with Libya have been likened to a waltz, moving two steps forward and one step back.

Besides being humiliating, the island’s inability to make a real breakthrough in the talks with its friendly neighbouring countries is also greatly disconcerting.