George Vella calls for talks on neutrality, Labour to retain Malta's participation in Partnership for Peace
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman George Vella this morning called for talks with the government on the concept of neutrality , which, he said, needed to be redefined in the context of current realities while still being entrenched in the Constitution.
Dr Vella was speaking in Parliament during the Budget debate on the financial estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the same time, he said, Malta needed to make security arrangements without subjecting itself to becoming a military base or forming part of any military alliance.
Dr Vella declared that a future Labour government would retain Malta's participation in the Partnership for Peace (PFP) as long as it exercised absolute control in what operations to participate in.
He rebuked the government for failing to discuss Malta's re-entry in the PFP and criticized the Prime Minister for ignoring Parliament, while having announced the re-participation to the US Ambassador. Parliament had the right of scrutiny on defence and security matters, Dr Vella insisted.
Dr Vella spoke at length on the Libyan revolution praising the government for the way it handled the matter. He said that credit should also be given to the Opposition for its support and caution even though the government stopped its consultation in the latter stage. He called on the government not to rush on issues of oil exploration with Libya as one could not expect a rapid solution.
He praised the heroic acts performed by the Libyan people to gain their freedom, adding also that the no fly zone was instrumental in stopping the massacre in Benghazi. He augured that the new Libya would fully participate in Mediterranean political structures. There was the need for the new government to tackle problems not only in re building the country but also the control of arms and the reconciliation among tribes.
Dr Vella said Malta and others states were very cautious on condemning and on taking action against government repression in Syria, Yemen and Bahrein. A two weights two measures policy was adopted.
He criticised the government for not taking a stronger stance on the Palestinian issue and for not condemning the use of force by Israel. He said that the EU condemned violent acts but did not otherwise act. NATO did well to defend Libyans in Benghazi but should have done so also when the Israeli armed forces killed 1,500 Palestinians in Gaza.
Dr Vella argued that the MEUSAC should become a parliamentary and not a ministerial structure to discuss EU-related issues.
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Christian Sciberras
Nov 30th 2011, 21:33
Neutrality? What neutrality?
Why do they keep misnaming phobia of soldiers and military as neutrality?
Here's some food for thought; Switzerland is the country with the longest period of neutrality in the world....and it has some of the most advanced armaments in the field, as well as a well-capable military force.
Naive Malta, on the other hand, simply is a pawn big brother countries (Italy, and other EU countries, US, Iran etc...) move around at will.
I get the impression that primary books depicting Maltese bravery during the Big War only lied in the name of popularity. Either that, or modern-day Joe Maltese is the kind that cowers under a rock whenever possible.
Wilfred Camilleri
Nov 30th 2011, 16:44
Dr Vella said that credit should also be given to the Opposition for its support and caution. If it was up to the PL, they would have sided with Gaddafi until the last minute. We heard the nonsense KBM said about the topic. It's nice that in 20/20 hindsight the PL is now trying to rewrite history.
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 16:18
Kullhadd ilablab hawn, nispera dawn il-farizej jikkummentaw dakinhar li xi nofs tuzzana suldati hutna Maltin jigu lura fil-body bags. Ovvja hafna hawn jikkummentaw ghax huma komdi komdi fuq is-sufan bil-laptop jistennew lill-gheziez uliedhom gejjin lura mill-Universita' jew l-ufficcju.
X'jimpurtana, mhux ulied haddiehor sejjer fil-kesha u t-tajn jiggieled gwerer ta` haddiehor.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 30th 2011, 18:43
Sur Gauci, body-bags kellna imma fi zmien Mintoff bhal Raymond Caruana u Lino Cauchi l-accountant. Anke dmijja kellna, bhal meeting f'tal Barrani (bhal lum 25 sena), u anke hruq kellna bhal kurja u t-Times. Dak iz-zmien il-Maltin kienu mjassra waqt li Mintoff kien imur jitbewwes ma Caucescu u Gaddafi u Alex Scheberras Trigona kien jiffirma l-kuntratti sigrieti ghall armi mill Koreja ta' Fuq ta' Kim-il-Sung.
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 21:52
Insejt lil Karen Grech u lil Wilfred Cardona Ms Borg. U xi nghidu ghal dawk il-pulizija li kienu jkunu ghassa u jaghmlulhom bomba jew iwaddbulhom il-balavostri? jew partitarji laburisti jisparaw fuqhom go Haz-Zebbug minn fuq il-bjut. Ghal kumplament nissuggerilek ma tantx taqra science fiction ghax qed jaffetwalek hazin mohhok. Lino Cauchi? Dan mhux fuq negozju nqatel? X'ghandu x'jaqsam il-gvern?? Allura bl-istess argument RCC l-Gvern ipprova joqtlu??
M. Bezzina
Nov 30th 2011, 22:43
everything will be forgotten M'anne!!!
P. Ciantar
Nov 30th 2011, 15:17
fl ahhar rajna id dawl
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 16:37
Sur Ciantar issa la rajna d-dawl ibghat lill-ibnek fl-ewwel missjoni ha taghti l-ezempju, volontiera jaccettaw bil-gzuz il-PFP.
P. Ciantar
Nov 30th 2011, 18:56
retorika biss sur R Gauci
michael catania
Dec 1st 2011, 16:22
another gun ho conservative has appeared on the horizon. Maybe he thinks that war is whats played on his computer. If he is such a hero why won't he be the fiirst to volunteer, or if he is too old maybe volunteer his children. Go and ask the mothers of those UK soldiers that regularly be ripatraited in body bags from Afganistan what they think about real wars.
Peter Agius
Nov 30th 2011, 14:57
Dr.Vella, Israel bombed Gaza because Hamas was firing rockets onto civilian populated areas in southern Israel. Or have you forgotten?
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 30th 2011, 14:51
T Gauci..I'm afraid you don't know the facts. The PFP allows for each member state to determine the type of participation.
Mark. Galea
Nov 30th 2011, 13:49
U l-ex hbieb tar-regim ta' Gaddafi li ghadhom fil-partit, x'ser isir minnhom?
Anthony Busuttil
Nov 30th 2011, 14:07
qed tirreferi ghal Dr Gonzi meta deher jghannaq lill Gaddafi. Dr Gonzi kien l-ahhar kap ta Stat li zar lill Gaddafi
H. Psaila
Nov 30th 2011, 16:34
@ Anthony Busuttil - Mela insejt li id-deputati Laburisti bhall Vella ghadu marbut mar-regime ta'Gaddafi u lanqas nissel kelma wahda kontra tieghu waqt il-krizi. U xi tghid ghall KMB kemm qal kontra lill minn qieghed jiggieled lill-Gaddafi u sahansitra qall li Maltin li jahdmu il-Libja biex imorru allavolja kien hemm il-glied imma huwa qal li Tripli huwa trankwil. Dak huwa il-partit Laburist tal-bierah, tal-llum u anke ta'ghada ghaliex qatt ma jinbidel.
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 30th 2011, 16:37
Isa Anthony tqanzah ftit iehor forsi jirnexilek tibdel l' storja! Kuragg
Mr Peter Vella
Nov 30th 2011, 13:47
Yet another major Labour policy U-turn after the ones on theie opposition to EU membership and the removal of VAT. Can they ever come up with one consistent policy? I doubt it.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 30th 2011, 13:39
Dr Vella and Labour seem now to have had a change-of-heart re PfP but one must remember that it was Dr Vella himself who pulled Malta unceremoneously out of PfP within 24 hrs that he became minister for foreign affairs under Alfred Sant. As ever, decades later Labour comes round to its senses and realises that PfP is for the good, much like his party realised much later of the good that came out of Independence in 64, EU in 2004 and the Euro in 2008.
Now, Labour's confused ideas about the neutrality clause in our Constitution need to be well explained. Malta should and must become part of NATO because we simply cannot defend ourselves on our own. This is very much like an insurance and one will only realise how stupid it is to remain without any cover when it is too late. All countries that joined the EU with us and since, have joined NATO with the exception of Cyprus that has very complicated issues with having the north its country occupied by Turkish forces. We absolutely have no clue which way Egypt, Libya and Tunisia will be going after the Arab Spring and while things look rosy now they could well turn ugly in no time at all. As part of NATO we will still have total control on what we do and Labour must stop mistrusting this ever-growing group nations that over more than half a century have shown time and again that they mean no harm to peace-loving nations, of which Malta is one shining example.
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 16:26
Ovvja Ms. Borg, meta iggengel il-mobile ta` wliedek jew ulied uliedek ghax jittardjaw naqra ma jaslu d-dar jew ghax taghmel bezqa xita ftakar x'taghmel kieku dawn kienu go xi gwerra ..mhux tan-NATO fuq kollox, hemmekk bullets tal-foam juzaw.
Kemm hi facli tlablab hux komda fuq is-sufan u dawk li jmutu jew imorru fil-periklu jkunu ulied haddiehor??
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 13:21
In-Newtralita` ghal Perit MIntoff u l-PL kienet importanti hafna, din ghaliha hallasna bid-demm minbarra hekk min kien qed icahhadna minnha kien ihallas talli qieghed juzana bhala bazi. Imbaghad li jitilqu u jibqu juzawna bla ma jaghtu xejn lura kienet tkun umiljanti. Dan qiesek qed tikri garaxx lil terza persuna, tkeccih bil-Qorti u jkollok wara xi zmien terga thallih juzah bla hlas, tkun tanta fatica per niente kif jghidu t-Taljani.
Hadd m'ghandu jiddiehaq bin-newtralita, din id-darba gietna tajba, darb'ohra taf ma tigiex imbaghad addio budgets, addio bonds tal-Gvern u propjeta` ghax kollox jigina suf.
J.C. Borg
Nov 30th 2011, 13:57
Newtrali mal-Punent imma le' mal-Vant. - Din x'newtralita' hi li ghabdna.
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 15:48
Sur Borg in-newtralita` giet imdahhla fil-kostituzzjoni mill-PL lejn l-ahhar tal-1986 u l-elezzjoni mirbuha mill-PN kienet Mejju 1987, issa immaginak qed taghmel ezami.... please expand.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 30th 2011, 18:34
Let me expand, Sur R Gauci: Il-homework ghamlu sew il PN ghax minn dik il-bidla fil-Kostituzzjoni l'hawn il-Lejber ghadu ma hax nifs, ghax s'issa gia' ghamel 23 sena fl'oppozizzjoni ! Trid nespandu iktar? Il-klawsola tan-newtralita' gie sfurzata f'gerzum pajjizna biex il-PN igib lura id-demokrazija wara 16 il-sena ta' kattiverja Mintoffjana Socjalista. In-newtralita' hi biss skuza biex Malta me tersaq qatt militarment mal pajjizi tal-Punent, jew ahjar kif kien isejhilhom Mintoff l-ewropa ta' Kajjien. Ara ghal Mintoff u nies fil-Lejber, l-ex ewropa tal-lvant kienet l-ewropa il-hanina, l-ewropa ta' Abel. Mur saqsi lill miljuni ta' cittadini fil-Polonja, Rep Ceka, Slovakkia, Rumanija etc ha tkun taf min kien imjassar u min kien fil-liberta'. U dan tafu int, imma ma tistax tnizzilha li s-Sewwa jirbah Zgur. Bhal ma rebah fil-Libja ricentament u bhal ma rebah hawn Malta mill 87 l'hawn.
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 22:09
@ Ms Borg
Kattiverja Mintoffjana? Infakkrek li l-emenda fil-kostituzzjoni kienet iddahlet propja fuq inazzjattiva ta` Dom Mintoff u kien hu stess li kkuntattja lil Guido Demarco. Il-Kostituzzjoni fl-1981 kienet tghid li min ghandu l-maggoranza tas-siggijiet jiggverna, Kostituzzjoni li anke l-PN kien jaqbel maghha, tant kien jaqbel maghha li fl-1971 il-PN tilef il-maggoranza tas-siggijiet ghal xi 10 voti u tghidx kemm kien fettaq u fittex, ma qalx li l-MLP kellu 5,000 maggoranza dakinhar, xorta Borg Olivier kien ghamel minn kollox u ma nafx kemm rega talab counts jigifieri kien komdu jiggverna bla maggoranza l-PN u dan wara 2 elezzjonijiet misruqa bl-ghajnuna ta` l-isqof Gonzi.
Kajjin u Abel? Mintoff kellu politka wahda, habib biss ma min jghin lil Malta, kieku konnha nnehhuh il-guh li writna fl-1971 ghax Mintoff mhux 400 miljun f'riservi wiret bhal Fenech Adami u xebgha azjendi jrendu (li llum fallihom il-PN) imma anqas flus biex johrog il-pagi.
Wenzu Vella
Nov 30th 2011, 13:04
If I am reading this correctly the PL wants to sell Malta cheap again to the powers that walked all over Malta’s rights in the past. All this for a pat on the back for the politicians when they visit Washington or London. Shame on you George Vella &co.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 30th 2011, 13:53
Hallina Wenz. Jaqaw kont qed taqra l-Orizzont il-bierah fejn ma rraportat xejn fuq iz-zjara tal PM taghna fil-Libja u minflok ippublikat zewg ittri li bdew jeqirdu ghax Caucescu m'ghadux dittatur? Bye bye Stalin, Caucescu, Gaddafi, Honecker u l-Germanja ta' Lvant, bye bye Jaruzleski tal-Polonja u skoss ohra dittaturi li kienu skjavi tal-Unjoni Sovjetika. Bis-sahha tan-NATO dawn kollha sparixxew u int trid tbellalna li ahna konna skjavi? Insomma, ma tantx baqghalek dittatturi komunisti lil min tiddefendi u forsi jkun ahjar ghalik jekk tqatta xi btala f'Kuba jew il-Korea ta' Fuq. Bhalissa hemm tours ghal Belarussja wkoll jekk int imhajjar.
Philip Hili
Nov 30th 2011, 14:06
@ Mary Ann Borg
Prosit HAFNA Ms Borg!
Ma hemmx x'wiehed ma' dak li ghidt int lil Wenzu. "Direct Hit" Pero' insejt issemilu id-dittaturi tal-"passat ricenti":-
Hosni Mubark, Ben Azil, dal-waqt Assad, wara mbaghad l-izjed "cowboy" tal-far east -Ahmadinejad......
George Calleja
Nov 30th 2011, 12:41
Sa fl-ahhar il-PL u Dr.Vella raw id-dawl u se jibqghu jikkonoxxu u jiehdu sehem fil-PfP. Hallelulia!! Bil-kemm ma jridx il-prosit fuq il-Libja meta li kien ghalih u l-partit tieghu messna dhalna medjaturi bejn Gaddafi u r-ribelli!!
T Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 13:11
@George Calleja
Li kien ghalik u ghal partit tieghek inkunu membri ta NATO u nibghatu lil armata tigieled il-gwerrer ta haddiehor
W Cassar
Nov 30th 2011, 13:12
Guess its the same with the PN on same sex marriages and divorce!
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 13:14
George f'dawk il-granet il-medjazzjoni kienet soluzzjoni tajba ghax it-truppi ta` Gaddafi kienu qed jimmassakraw hafna innocenti u b'hekk biss setgha jigi evitati dawk l-atrocitajiet, meta n-NATO ddecidiet fuq in-no fly zone imbaghad inqaleb kollox ghax kieku llum qed nitkellmu mod iehor u Malta qeghdin f'inkwiet kbir habba l-ilsien twil tal-PM. Alla Habbna li n-NATO intervjeniet.
r spiteri
Nov 30th 2011, 13:32
@ Mr T Gauci
Tivvintax qlajjiet u stejjer. Il-PN fil-Gvern ma ghamilx u mhux se jaghmel dan. Ibbaza ruhek fuq fatti u mhux paroli fierah meta taghmel stqarrijiet serji bhal dawn.
Philip Hili
Nov 30th 2011, 13:57
@ George Calleja,
Hallina Sur Gauci, b'kul rispett lejn l-armata zghira li ghandna IZDA KBIRA FIX-XOGHOL LI TAGHMEL!!!. Kont twelidt meta kien hemm it-tahdidiet dwar il-kostituzzjoni ta' l-Indipendenza u l-Kap ta' l-Oppozizzjoni ta' dak iz-zmien l-Onor. Duminku Mintoff ma ried li dawn ikun imdahhla fit-tahdidiet ghax skond hu dawn kienu "suldati ta' l-operetta" biex jikkuljunhom????
Sur Gauci....l-istess ghadkom!!!!!! u allura postkom hu fl-oppozizzjoni, ma hemmx x'taghmel. Issa qeghdha tahraqkom qalbkom ghall-armata Maltija??
Philip Hili
Nov 30th 2011, 14:14
@ R. Gauci
Ara hawnx xi fizzjal tra' xi armata li jipprova jimmedja ghax f'xi hin tal-konflitt "f'dawk il-granet il-medjazzjoni kienet soluzzjoni tajba"!!!!!
U halluna! Bil-kemm ma tridux tiehdu l-glorja meta kien il-PL li lanqas lissen kelma ta' kundanna ghal l-atrocitajiet li semmejt int!!!!!! Imma tifilhu tkun ipokriti!!!!???????
R. Gauci
Nov 30th 2011, 15:57
Sur Hili il-kundanni mhux mill-partiti johorgu izda mill-Gvern u dak Malti hekk ghamel f'isem kullhadd inkluz il-PL li kienu f'kuntatt kontinwu Gonzi u Muscat. Mbaghad ahjar taghlaq halqek ghax li kien ghal Gonzi din is-sena Gaddafi kien se jinghata merhba ta` eroj go pajjizna imma nqala li nqala u min jaf kemm konna ncapcpulu forsi jsala l-Air Malta jew jaghtina xi kuntratt.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 30th 2011, 17:45
@ R Gauci: JJigifieri fejn trid tghid li Gonzi kellu lsienu twil u fejn trid tghid li Gonzi u Muscat kienu flimkien fil bicca tal-Libja. Biex tara fejn kien Muscat u l-Labour mur aqra l-Orizzint ta' dak il-perjodu mhux il-boghod u malajr tinduna fejn kontu int, il-Labour u Muscat. Ghax ma tghidx li ghandek Prim Ministru li b'vizjoni enormi (sinonima mal PN) kien l-ewwel PM li sahaq li Gaddafi m'ghadx ghandu postu fit-tmexxija ta' pajjizu. U mhux parla biss, imma hadem qatiegh biex jigu evakwati eluf kbar ta' nies li riedu jitilqu mill Libja. U halla forzi Inglizi jibbazaw ruhhom Malta biex jghinu fis-sigurta' tal-evakwazzjoni. Sadattant, int u nies bhalkom kontu qed tfixklu billi titfghu dubji fuq 'dawn l-ajruplani kollha li qed jinzlu Malta' u sa ftit gimghat ilu Gino Cauchi anke pogga mistoqsija Parlamentari biex jara kemm gew vapuri u ajruplani din is-sena. Daqshekk kellkom qalbkom perzuta mal poplu Libjan. Qalbkom kienet imma ma Gaddafi Dalli mhux mal poplu li kien qed jigi mbiccier minn dittatur iehor habib tal-Labour.
Angus Black
Nov 30th 2011, 20:12
@ T Gauci
According to you, then, we should disband AFM since their job will never be fulfilled in case of need. We don't want to participate in other countries' problems but we demand a defence agreement should our country comes under attack!
I forget, though, that the whole world owes us special treatment, handouts, jobs and protection.
Philip Hili
Dec 1st 2011, 00:38
@ R. Gauci
Eh sewwa! jigifieri anke f'dan il-kaz sewwa ghidt li ;-PL FL-OPPOZIZZJONI irid jew hasel idejh!!!! ghax skond int "Sur Hili il-kundanni mhux mill-partiti johorgu izda mill-Gvern u dak Malti hekk ghamel f'isem kullhadd inkluz il-PL " Dak paravendu eh!!! Taf li l-oppozizzjoni Maltija hija differenti min oppozizzjoni ta' pajizi ohra? Kos! hux!!!!
"Mbaghad ahjar taghlaq halqek" Sewwa!!!, dawn iridu jiggvernaw lilna!! Qieghed jghidli ghalaq halqek issa ghax ma naqblux u qeghdin fl-oppozizzjoni, HASEB U ARA META JKUNU FIL-GVERN KEMM IGHIDLI "GHALQ HALQEK IZJED" Taf li sewwa qal l-Anglu tal-Mosta li "Nazzjnalisti ghadkom ma tafux x'gej ghalikom, il-kbir ghadu gej"
Sur Hili il-kundanni mhux mill-partiti johorgu izda mill-Gvern u dak Malti hekk ghamel f'isem kullhadd inkluz il-PL li kienu f'kuntatt kontinwu Gonzi u Muscat. Mbaghad ahjar taghlaq halqek ghax li kien ghal Gonzi din is-sena Gaddafi kien se jinghata merhba ta` eroj go pajjizna imma nqala li nqala u min jaf kemm konna ncapcpulu forsi jsala l-Air Malta jew jaghtina xi kuntratt.
Today, 15:57
R. Gauci
Today, 15:57
Sur Hili il-kundanni mhux mill-partiti johorgu izda mill-Gvern u dak Malti hekk ghamel f'isem kullhadd inkluz il-PL li kienu f'kuntatt kontinwu Gonzi u Muscat. Mbaghad ahjar taghlaq halqek ghax li kien ghal Gonzi din is-sena Gaddafi kien se jinghata merhba ta` eroj go pajjizna imma nqala li nqala u min jaf kemm konna ncapcpulu forsi jsala l-Air Malta jew jaghtina xi kuntratt.li kienu f'kuntatt kontinwu Gonzi u Muscat. Mbaghad ahjar taghlaq halqek ghax li kien ghal Gonzi din is-sena Gaddafi kien se jinghata merhba ta` eroj go pajjizna imma nqala li nqala u min jaf kemm konna ncapcpulu forsi jsala l-Air Malta jew jaghtina xi kuntratt.
R. Gauci
Dec 1st 2011, 08:45
Sur Hili, fl-Oppozizzjoni ma tahsilx idejk imma tahdem id f'id mal-Gvern fuq issue bhal din, tant li Muscat stess kien stqarr pubblikament li jappoggja lill-PM f'dak li kien qed jaghmel. Li kull partit u kull kumpanijja tohrog kundanna skritta hi politka parrokkjali mhux nazzjonali, il-Gvern, f'isem il-kabinett kollu johrog biha. Mela ghadna nghixu fi zmien Don Camillo u Peppino??
Fuq x'gej ghalikom ma naf xejn, jien se nivvota PL u nhobb l-ghaqda u l-paci ghax b'hekk biss nipprosperixxu, mhux se nivvota PL biex nara huti Maltin, anke li ma jaqblux mieghi mahqura jew diskriminati, il-PL diga iggverna sentejn mill-80s l'hawn u f'dawk is-sentejn la saru vandalizmi u lanqas vendikazzjonijiet politici, jekk qed nigdeb merini. Ghax qed nitkellmu qiesu l-PL l-ewwel darba li se jiggverna mill-1987 se jkun wara l-elezzjoni li jmiss dejjem jekk jirbaha.