No contact with Nato on Libya - Gonzi

Cardona Charles

Mar 8th 2011, 16:21

There where times when the nationalist Government used to joke about Neutrality. We can see that Neutrality in the Maltese Consituition was a good idea after all.

Wenzu Vella

Mar 8th 2011, 13:25

Dr Gonzi said that Malta was not and would not serve as a military base.
Dear Dr Gonzi. As the Prime Minister of Malta and leader of the Nationalist Party you must never let Malta be SERVILE again to the big powers. In the national interest Malta must always remain NEUTRAL it is the only way forward. Habib kullhadd u habib had….

Melvyn Mifsud LLD

Mar 8th 2011, 11:12

Our Premier has done all that we could have done - and even more than what may have been expected out of acountry which may give the wrong impression,; because of it's size.

Leadership is not about sitting on the fence.

Leadership is about reading the times - taking tough decisions, even when people may think that abdciating from doing one's duty is the safest way forward.

After such a turmoil, we as Maltese should feel nothing but prouder.

Malta's stand from the very outset will be vindicated and further appreciated.

I also appreciated our Minister's Tonio Borg role int the saga - well explained on Bondiplus yesterday.

Joe Portelli

Mar 7th 2011, 21:53

What the Maltese people and their government did was recomendable - however, there will be no winners

Who ever controls Libya will always be wary of Malta - we befriended a pariah for 40 years and now we dont push to support either side. This is not unique to us in Malta, but to most western countries.

The dilemma for the prime minister is not to make the Islands a target , should the Libyans percieve us as traitors after 40 years freindship.

I would invite Nato with open arms and remove any worries of being attacked by mad dogs. We are too small to plead neutrality after a perceptive betrayal.

dspiteri

Mar 7th 2011, 21:43

We do not afford any wars. Our economy will collapse if we ever get involved in any millitary action.
NO TO WAR.

Ray Borg

Mar 7th 2011, 18:27

Gonzi I think that now its time to start clear our port and Airport and leave it clear for tourists and cruises. This tiny island with the government, opposition and the Maltese nation togheter have done more then our share.

Joe Grima

Mar 7th 2011, 18:00

This is the correct position for Malta to take and the Prime Minisiter has taken it. I am, not the one to tell him what to do but I can only see his role as that of leading the continuation of the humanitarian mission assuring that none of the allies will ensnare him and our country in providng logistic support for any military operation against Libya,. That is not our role. And if a military operation is decided by the US or by theEU such as enforcing a no fly zone then let them provide each other with the logistics they will need . Malta must continue to be seen and to be felt as a country that provides only humanitarian support , at a time of dire need, for those in danger as it has been doing so admirably. Credit goes also to the Prime Minister who has had to face some pretty tough decisions during this process. That is why his apparent sabre rattling on a TV programme recently rankled and seemed completely out of place.

Jesmond Farrugia

Mar 7th 2011, 15:38

This is not the first time Al-Jazeera has made baseless allegations.

To be clear: The Italian government has already made its bases available to NATO in the event a military build-up is called for (invoking the "euro Atlantic" charter).

NATO at this stage is strongly advised to limit involvement to a no-fly zone and humanitarian assistance. It should resist the temptation to escalate violence by arming the rebels, an act that could easily spark separatist movements in Chad, Niger, North Sudan and elsewhere, leading to genocide and scuppering any hope of a global economic recovery.

Malta's involvement, indeed NATO's involvement should be robust, diplomatic and based on realpolitik. Libya is neither Iran nor Iraq, nor indeed is it a Kosovo.