Updated: John McCain on Malta visit
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Senator John McCain is in Malta on his second visit in just over two years.
He is accompanied by Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Mark Kirk and Senator Marco Rubio.
The senators had talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the Auberge de Castille this morning and thanked him for Malta's role in the Libyan uprising, including assistance given for the evacuation of American workers.
Senator McCain was among the most forceful American politicians to call on the Obama administration to back the Libyan rebels, soon after the uprising started.
Speaking to timesofmalta.com after visiting St John's Co-Cathedral, Senator McCain, who is to visit Libya, said he would tell the Libyan government and people the US was prepared to assist “in any way possible” as they go down the path to democracy.
“I will congratulate them on their victory and tell them the US is working as hard as it could to make sure Libyan assets are freed up to ensure sufficient funds are available for the authorities to carry out their governmental functions,” he said.
Senator McCain said that in his talks with Prime Minister Larwence Gonzi his delegation discussed how Malta and the US could “work cooperatively” to help the people of Libya.
The former presidential candidate last visited Malta in December 2008 on his way back from Afghanistan. He had discussed US-Malta relations and the situation in the Mediterranean.
Senator McCain currently serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Second group of migrants arrives
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
41 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
K. Vella
Sep 28th 2011, 21:41
Welcome to Malta Mr. Senator
We are back again on the right side of the WORLD MAP.
Liberty and Democracy was difficult to be achieved back, lets take good care of it.
Mr Denis Pace
Sep 28th 2011, 20:35
wow
We are a nation of experts of everything under the sun!
Prosit!
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Sep 28th 2011, 20:06
yes ...democracy U.S style similar to that in bahrain, saudi,yemen,dubai ,abu ahabi, qatar . they are all democratic states as far as the u.s is concerned! lets hope that poor jallil wont meet the same faith as saddam when his services to the u.s are no longer requiered!
Peter Seebohm
Sep 28th 2011, 18:26
Welcome Mr. McCaine
He´s one of the Republican leaders who anticipate Obama`s plan to lower the USA deficits.
Also he is one of the "loudest" who are against a social security for the poorest Americans.
Understandable, since it will cost USA about 40 Billion USD per year.
Btw. The budget for USA militar is about 4000-5000 Billions per year !!!!
When McCaine is elected USA goes back for minimum 100 years
My opinion, of course
Mr W Cassar
Sep 28th 2011, 22:02
I agree he is a dinosaur.
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 22:44
Obama has not much to brag about as a President!
Mr john vella
Sep 29th 2011, 16:39
Peter
I was so surprised to see Mr. McCaine, since his last presidential defeat lot of stories came out, some say Mr. Obama won the presidency because of the poor show of Mr. McCaine. The word back home is, 'is he a Demo or a Republican?'.
Some even write that he should retired and go home counting his money!
joseph gaffarena
Sep 28th 2011, 17:40
Wellcome senator , it was a pleasure seeing you in valletta .admire the beauty of our cathedral.
Give our best to all your people, and our sincere sympaty to all those brave soldiers, that lost their lives'
fighting for democracy in other commuinists country.
God bless America
Mr Alex Buds
Sep 28th 2011, 21:48
they're not fighting in communist countries and haven't been for decades... catch up on the news sir!
Mr Patrick Zammit
Sep 28th 2011, 16:47
Is McCain in a religious or secular position?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5z2m_7Q4Yo&feature=related
Mr ALBERT FENECH
Sep 28th 2011, 16:37
Fools rush in....so a few corrections. Senator McCain is NOT the American Government. Being a Republican, he is in OPPOSITION to the Obama Government and carries no specific brief for it. The Palestine issue is therefore fairy-like fantasies. He has absolutely nothing to do with the US accepting refugees or not, as Mr William Goham clearly explained, besides which the US has it own problems with hundreds of thousands of Mexicans trying to cross into the US annually. However, what is interesting is that in a relatively brief period he should visit Malta twice to hold talks with the Malta Government. So what is going on Mr McCain? Anyway, welcome to Malta Mr McCain. During the US Presidential electoral campaign you made some very memorable speeches, including the star occasion when you said that Americans do not follow history, they MAKE history. You are a great orator and you proved to be a very dignified candidate - even though you are right wing Republican!
ALBERT FENECH
Qawra
m. borg
Sep 28th 2011, 17:16
Anything to help uplift supporters morale, who cares if McCain is a wannabee president, most maltese don't even follow foreign politics never mind knowing who is McCain and what he represents.
Maltese are suckers for foreign politicians.
Ms Emma Xerri
Sep 28th 2011, 17:37
What's the difference? Republican/Democrat, PN/PL - it is all oppo-same.
After all, they do not call it the 'theatre of politics' for nothing.
Mr Martin Cassar
Sep 28th 2011, 17:40
'including the star occasion when you said that Americans do not follow history, they MAKE history. You are a great orator and you proved to be a very dignified candidate - even though you are right wing Republican!'
----------------------------------
Does that mean history only began some 300 years ago? Interesting!
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 18:11
@m. borg
TI wouldn't boast that most Maltee don't even follow foreign politics. That shows ignorance! I guess that's why they say ignorance is bliss! But i think you speak for yourself when you say that.
Maltese are not suckers for foreign politicians. Foreign politicians visiting other countries, especially ones that have influence like Senator McCain, are always welcome by the local government.
And Mr. Fenech, you should remember that the Republicans control the senate and the house of representatives so they have a very strong role in shaping US policy, even though the President is a Democrat.
stephen koludrovic
Sep 28th 2011, 20:28
Please note that in the USA that there are some Republicans that are ore liberal than some Democrats and also vise versa some Democrats more right wing than some Republicans.
Joseph A Borg
Sep 29th 2011, 15:07
Mr Albert Fenech, when a senator is out and about, he's on official business for the State Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the Pentagon (Ministry of 'Defence') … always.
If those two aren't part of the US government I don't know what is. As to what he'd be discussing with the Prime Minister and opposition? Most probably the border dispute on oil rights. Let's hope for the better and it gets resolved for the mutual benefit of Malta and Libya. Let's also hope we don't become the centre of an oil slick in a couple of years time…
Mr JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Sep 28th 2011, 15:57
What about vetoing the application for a Palestinian state?
Give Palestine back to the Palestinians.
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 16:24
The Palestinians will get their state when they sit down and negotiate in good faith; that's by renouncing their charter which states that Israel does not have the right to exist and stopping all terrorist attacks on Israel. Granted Israel has to stop the building of settlements but both sides have to compromise and Hamas does not seem ready to compromise at all!
Mr Adrian Borg Cardona
Sep 28th 2011, 16:41
@ Mr Wilfred Camilleri: How can the Palestinians sit down and negotiate while at the same time -today -the Israelis are still building on occupied land against international law. When will israel observe the law? What 's more, this is what the BBC reported today: "Meanwhile, the UN rapporteurs on housing, water, sanitation and food rights said there had been a "dramatic increase" in the demolitions (of Palestinian houses) this year. "The impact and discriminatory nature of these demolitions and evictions is completely unacceptable," they said in a statement. "These actions by the Israeli authorities violate human rights and humanitarian law and must end immediately."
Frans Aguis
Sep 28th 2011, 17:01
@Wilfred While the Palestinians have been sitting down in dead end negotiations half a million Israelis have occupied their land.How about they stop settlement building then they sit down and talk.Their application for a state is one of the first peaceful ways they have tried to settle this issue.
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 19:06
@ Mr Adrian Borg Cardona: How can the Israelis sit down and negotiate while at the same time - today - the Palestinians are still firing rockets into Israel and still refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist? See Mr. Borg Cardona, there are two sides to the coin! Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist and Israel keeps building settlements. As to the UN's reports, please keep in mind that the UN is a biased organization in this instance. They keep bashing Israel with resolution after resolution but have yet to pass a resolution requiring the Palestinians (specifically Hamas) to stop firing rockets into Israel. Negotiation is a two-eay street therefore each side must make concessions!
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 19:14
@Frans Aguis
How about if Palestinians renounce the wording in their Charter that Israel does not have a right to exist and how about Palestinians, specifically Hamas, stop firing rockets at Israel. Then Israel can stop settlement building and then they can sit down and talk.
Their application for a state is an attempt by Abbas, who represents the West Bank, to circumvent direct negotiations. The only peaceful way to settle this issue is for BOTH sides to make concessions; that is Israel to stop building settlements and the Palestinians to renounce their policy that Israel does not have a right to exist!
j brincat
Sep 28th 2011, 15:03
Did they discuss America's threat to veto the application by the Palestine leader for state membership?
(jb)
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 16:06
It's not a threat. America would be doing the right thing by vetoing the request for the Palestinian state membership!
Mr B Grech
Sep 28th 2011, 16:30
You wouldn t be saying that if you were palestinian Wilfred. Generations of palestinians have suffered under Israeli military occupation. Its time they had their own state, from what is left of their land!
Mr Carmelo Aquilina
Sep 28th 2011, 16:36
@ Wilfred - why is it right to veto this application - everyone accepts that there needs to be a two state solution so let the two states negotiate on a more equal footing
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 17:53
@ Mr Adrian Borg Cardona: How can the Israelis sit down and negotiate while at the same time - today - the Palestinians are still firing rockets into Israel and still refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist? See Mr. Borg Cardona, there are two sides to the coin! Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist and Israel keeps building settlements. As to the UN's reports, please keep in mind that the UN is a biased organization in this instance. They keep bashing Israel with resolution after resolution but have yet to pass a resolution requiring the Palestinians (specifically Hamas) to stop firing rockets into Israel. Negotiation is a two-eay street therefore each side must make concessions!
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 17:56
@ Mr Carmelo Aquilina
You ask why is it right to veto this application - everyone accepts that there needs to be a two state solution so let the two states negotiate on a more equal footing. Correct. I agree 100%. But the Palestinians cannot get their state while at the same time having a Charter that says Israel cannot exist. What`s good for the goose, is good for the gander as the saying goes. Palestinians must renounce the wording in their Charter that specifically says that Israel does not have a right to exist.
Mr Peter Agius
Sep 28th 2011, 22:36
Which Palestine leader???? Abbas or Hamas???
Mr Peter Agius
Sep 28th 2011, 22:39
@Carmelo Aquilina
Maybe even three states....Palestine, Israel and Hamastan.
Mr john vella
Sep 29th 2011, 16:56
It is just amazing!
Palestine calls for peace yet their leader says 'once independent not a Jew come to live in Palestine!' Palestine call for peace yet over 15,000 rocket missiles have been sent from their territory into Israel, fired on innocent people that do not make it to the newspapers. Suicide bombers killing innocent civilians, women and children just because they are Jews.
And you want me to believe the sincerity of the Palestinians.
Palestinians caused trouble in Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon, Billions of dollars are pumped to Palestine every year only to be squandered by those who are running the country.
They deserve a country the question is what sort of country?
Mr mark johnson
Sep 28th 2011, 14:38
Losers of the world unite!
Mr R ferriggi
Sep 28th 2011, 15:26
what do you mean? if these are the losers ( i assume you refer to the libya issue...)....
then who is the winner!?!?
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 16:08
And I suppose KMB is a winner?
Ms D Galea
Sep 28th 2011, 13:55
Can Mr Mc Cain please help with trying to find a bright new future in America for some of the war refugees who landed on our shores of late?
Thank you
Willliam Goham
Sep 28th 2011, 16:01
Why should America have to accept these war refugees, this is a European problem, let Europe fix it.
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 28th 2011, 16:07
Did you know that the US has taken more refugees than any other EU country?
Mr Alex Buds
Sep 28th 2011, 17:24
Ms D Galea: they already helped us more than any EU country did, even though the EU is supposed to be the one helping us not them.
Mr Martin Cassar
Sep 28th 2011, 19:51
True the USA helped us in few dozens of illegal immigrants than our EU partners. But why this doesn't impress me an iota? Simple because the USA has created tens of millions of of refugees because of either illegal wars or environmental disasters. BTW same USA is working right now , be means of VETO to block some 4-5 Millions Palestinians refuges to their home land!
Mr Alex Buds
Sep 29th 2011, 17:55
@ Martin Cassar: your facts are wrong: They have taken in several hundred refugees from Malta - about 800-1000 last time I checked. Not just "few dozens".