Forget the carpet treatment

There is a big difference between the red carpet treatment and the simple carpet treatment. The former is a sign of respect and the latter an expression of spite.

There were occasions when organisers of international events “forgot” to invite Malta. And some of us smiled at the sweet foreigners’ absent-mindedness. How cute!

In the illegal immigration issue, a European commissioner declared that Malta’s situation had not yet reached serious enough proportions to put into practice EU efforts for assistance related to an emergency. When asked what the situation had to be before she declared it an emergency, she did not reply, proving that she did not really know what she was talking about or that she did not see a difference between dreams and reality.

Nato military jets attacking Libya often came back to Malta either running out of fuel or with some malfunction. If this had happened once or twice, we would have said: “Things that happen.” However, considering that in Malta we stopped counting these farces where a jet’s fuel finishes just before passing over Malta, many started joking about the “generous VRT” that these fine planes with easy malfunction had undergone, especially the reliability of the fuel gauge.

On the other hand, some people said that, maybe, the military command of these fighter jets was just taking the Michael by pretending to have problems and look ridiculous in their unreliable flying machines.

Meanwhile, we still have to see the same military enthusiasm helping the Syrians who are not suffering less than the Libyans did.

A Spanish naval vessel last July arrived with 100 illegal immigrants. Eighteen hours on its way to Malta, it had not advised the Malta government that it would soon be here. Spain apparently believes that, when there is a Mediterranean problem, this should be dumped on the weakest or smallest country, not necessarily on the country that is legally bound by maritime law. In this case, Spain behaved very bullishly towards Malta.

Nato also did not immediately answer Malta’s request for info while the naval vessel was outside our territorial waters. In this case, Nato also behaved clumsily towards Malta. I mean, come on, a Nato naval vessel arrives unannounced outside Maltese territorial waters, the Maltese government asks for an explanation and for two days none is forthcoming! Eventually, the vessel left. I am not sure any Nato explanation came before its departure. Basic international mutual respect usually takes better forms.

On July 18, the US Foreign Secretary was quoted in The Times as saying: “I am so thankful for the Maltese government’s assistance in providing emergency landing services for Nato planes engaged in operations in Libya, ensuring a safe return home for our pilots. Time and time again, Malta has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to the United Nations and the human rights of the people of Libya, the Mediterranean region and the world.”

I do not see any reason for thankfulness here. It is according to international law to provide services for real emergencies and Malta respects international law because it is not a renegade state.

Also, “ensuring a safe return home for our pilots” indicates that one state speaks patronisingly in the name of pilots from various countries. This was followed by an unhealthy association of Nato to the UN almost in the same breath, as if the two organisations were almost indistinguishable.

Shall we say that this attempted triple-speak was not very successful and far removed from the superior diplomatic finesse we are used to hearing in international media?

The Italians have, in the immigration issue, often used hysteria with us thinking that, as we are both Mediterranean, they could regularly throw a scène de ménage at us. Ministers Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Tonio Borg were not very impressed – nor the rest of the Maltese – and the impish tantrums calmed down.

Big Brother interference has also been used with Malta by the Vatican and the UNHCR, taking the form of advance praise of what they wish us to do. As if we never heard of manipulative conditioning!

It seems as if there is some desire that every decision taken by the state of Malta has to have the approval of sundry busybodies and interfering wise guys and gals. Busybody foreigners treat us like small fry because we are geographically small. And, very often, they offer us wisdom we already hear in our kindergartens.

Unfortunately, the above carpet treatment is sometimes encouraged by some locals with a cultural inferiority complex. First an ambassador divulges to others what our Prime Minister told her confidentially. Soon after, we invite a very religious ambassador – in an age of emancipated secularism – to tell us how to change our Constitution!

We continue to wonder in awe!