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‘Gaddafi asked Mintoff to help him buy nuclear sub’

Deposed Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had asked Dom Mintoff to act as an intermediary in a nuclear submarine purchase, according to MEP John Attard Montalto, confidant to the former Labour Prime Minister.

Writing in The Times today, Dr Attard Montalto says: “Mintoff was stunned and refused. Not after all his efforts, Mintoff told me, to demilitarise and de-nuclearise the Mediterranean.”

The MEP uses this anecdote and others to contrast the “distorted” story often told about Mr Mintoff’s relationship with Col Gaddafi.

“Mintoff always knew who he was dealing with: an arbitrary, unpredictable man, made ruthless by the international politics in his region and his ability to buy almost anyone and anything.”

The article deals with the established view that Mr Mintoff used his relationship with Col Gaddafi as leverage with the West. Dr Attard Montalto quotes the former Labour Leader telling him: “Do you think Europe and America would have paid attention to me if I did not have that personal relationship with Gaddafi?”

However, it also reveals Mr Mintoff was aware of the dangers entailed by his high-risk foreign policy strategy.

Writing about the 1980 standoff, when Libyan gunboats threatened to shoot at an oil platform drilling for Malta, the MEP writes of a searing exchange in Tripoli between Mr Mintoff and Abdesalam Jalloud, Gaddafi’s number two at the time, which degenerated into a threat against the former Prime Minister.

Mr Mintoff described the meeting, which lasted several hours, as “the greatest fight” of his life. “Jalloud shouted at Mintoff that even the waters in Malta’s Grand Harbour fell within Libyan waters. Mintoff gave as good as he got.

“I suspect Jalloud retorted by pulling out a gun or making direct physical threats.

“Why else would Mintoff tell me, more than once, that the incident was scarier than anything else he had been through?” Dr Attard Montalto writes.

The article adds to Dr Attard Montalto’s previous contribution to The Times in the wake of Mr Mintoff’s death on August 20.

In it, the MEP wrote about the enduring friendship he had struck in 1987 with Mr Mintoff, then 71, shortly after he was first elected to Parliament at the age of 34.

The two met at least once a week for the following 16 years, apart from during Dr Montalto’s 22-month stint as minister in Alfred Sant’s Government.

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Peter Midler

Sep 21st 2012, 21:31

Mr Edward Caruana Galizia let me tell you in Maltese...'Qed thawwad!'

That incident in 1985/86 was during KMB's premiership. Get your facts right please before you go public.

Another point. If Gaddafi wanted to give Mintoff an award, why refuse it?? Malta had so much to gain from Libja and Mintoff knew it. The west followed suit.

You really do not know Mintoff. You have no idea about the man, his wit and his love for Malta! Believe me. Perhaps propaganda has got the better of you!

Ivan Grech Mintoff

Sep 22nd 2012, 10:23

@ECG

Again please get your facts/insinuations right.

It was not DM who warned him of the imminent attack..

pat muscat

Sep 21st 2012, 18:09

@Mr Anthony Briffa. History can never be re written that is why PN apologist cannot negate that the major industries in Malta, plus AGS Thomson (that still exports 50%+ of our exports) were all lured to Malta by a Labour administration. Imagine how richer we would all be if PN did the same!

Tony Dalli

Sep 21st 2012, 16:50

@martinelli.

It seems that you know best, why bother KMB at this stage.
Have you read Dr. JAM comments he explicitly said the Mintoff refused to act as a political broker.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Sep 22nd 2012, 09:12

Mr Martinelli,in politics like in many other situation, come times when one has to ' ibus id li jistieqa maqtuha'. Sorry I don't know the English equivalent of that adage,literally translated it means, kissing the hand which you wish it was chopped off.

J Martinelli

Sep 21st 2012, 16:33

And you think for one second that either would have told you the truth? KMB is still around, maybe you can ask him, a usual reliable source as he is

Charles Vella

Sep 21st 2012, 23:29

Go tell this to KMB!! He was the one who acted SOOO neutral, and called gaddafi to save him from being bombed by the UK and the USA in 1988, after GADDAFI KILLED MORE THEN 500 PEOPLE on the Scottish town of Lockerbie, with the bomb leaving UNDIDECTED from Malta!!! With Malta being tagged as a TERRORIST COUNTRY!!!!! THAT IS MINTOFF AND GADDAFI... and pretty soon, KMB will join them having tea in you know where!!

carlos ellul

Sep 21st 2012, 16:47

It also fought for the women votes, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, pensions and religious secularism. Just ask a woman/gay/elderly person if they would swap these rights for Malta's joining the eu etc.

J Martinelli

Sep 21st 2012, 18:06

Carlos Ellul

Your question is, well, silly, to put it mildly. One does not swap a good thing for another because in the process he would lose what he bartered, no?
The same question, you can answer yourself. Would you prefer to have been integrated with Britain instead of becoming independent? Would you prefer the government to by the groceries for you, the brands of its choice, the price set by itself, etc., etc., than be a member of the EU, enjoying wide open trade, choice of brands, unlimited quantities, better jobs, etc.? Would you go back to the living conditions of the 70s and 80s? Would you continue to give credit to the LP when such credit precedes the party of Malta's saviour? And what about gays and elderly persons? Have you ever visited l-Imgieret as was formerly known and survived the stench and the third world conditions there where the 'elderly' were placed simply to die? And what about gays? How were gays better protected before we joined the EU? Enlighten me, will you?

Ross Stephen

Sep 21st 2012, 18:07

Totally agree, however I rather we had kept the Queen as Canada, Australia, Mew Zealand have and before anyone says they will become republic, remember Australia has held 2 republic referendum and both failed, I wonder what the out come would have been if we had held one ?????

carlos ellul

Sep 21st 2012, 22:35

Dear mr martinelli My point is that both parties has their share of glory/shame in their history books. If that wasnt the case malta would have been the european version of zimbabwe and not a modern country with a good standard of living. Which makes our politicians tactic of using the past as a weapon ridiculous. I bet no pn supporter would accept that the pns stance against the women votes, pensions and its absolute silence regarding the churchs crusade against the mlp were examples of the party being at the right side of history.

carlos ellul

Sep 21st 2012, 22:38

Before mintoff changed our laws, gays were sent to prison. He change that law despite fierce opposition from both the pn and the church lead by archbishop gonzi.

Anthony A. Mifsud

Sep 21st 2012, 15:32

@SurBriffa.
That's what happens when people like you have nothing to add, just keep wearing your blinkers.
I have to say, that the worst battle, is when trying to educate the rock , quite difficult ! I say old chap?
I stick to my conservative philosophy, as I had enough educating others
The so called black days of the 70 & 80' where the years of progress to all, just small reflection, how many cooperate parastatal company's are left to sell for peanuts?
What was our nations bebpt? Your good on the desk?
Ninu

Francis Saliba M.D.

Sep 21st 2012, 16:43

@ Anthony A Mifsud. today at 15:32

May I suggest that you take some time off from trying to "educate others" and devote more time "trying to educate the rock" that not only wears blinkers, but that is so dissociated from historical facts that he pretends to be incredulous even when proof of the dismal servitude of Mintoff's MLP to an international terrorist pariah like Gaddafi is flung in his face by no less a witness than a former VIP in that MLP fold.

M Grima

Sep 21st 2012, 20:55

@Francis Saliba M.D.

If I recall correctly the last head of state to embrace and kiss Gaddafi in his tent before he was overthrown was your beloved Dr. Gonzi and to cap it all he had the gall to invite the guy for a state visit. Some people have a really short memory but it suits them to chose part of our history (not really history because it only happened a few years back) to twist things to their liking.

Sandro Lapira

Sep 21st 2012, 15:56

Well said!! and we should assume that there was much much more then we will ever know about the Mintoff and Gaddafi relationship.

Joe M Borg

Sep 21st 2012, 13:08

Because Gonzi was NOT asked for a nuclear submarine, was NOT decorated by Gaddafi, and was NOT a recipient of party founding by the colonel.

John Zammit

Sep 21st 2012, 13:32

@ Joe M Borg True but was other high Maltese politician (on the other side) also decorated. I am sure this was done in the interest of Malta by both parties

Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina

Sep 21st 2012, 14:48

@J.brincat,

Madoffi Nen, (ex PN councillor) you nearly broke my heart (with laughter, of course)!

Ara veru ma tistħux intom tal-Lejber,

Ivalanqas daqsxejn dispjaċir għall dak kollu li wettaqtu f’dawk iż-żminijiet ma għandkom!

X’ma jemminx il-poplu Malti u Għawdxi li jek terġgħu tkunu fil-gvern ħniżrijiet u tbattijiet bħal-tas=sengħinijiet u t-tmeninijiet terġgħu twetqu, bla mintħija u bla ebdaskruplu, Sur J, Brincat.
Mela l-aħjar ħu li tieħdu dan il-parir:

"Your choice is mychoice.pn. Your choice is voting for the PN for stability in the future you want to build. The PN is your choice for health, work and education,"

Kuraġġ Maltin u Għawdxin ejjew inħarsu din l-Indipendenza ta' Malta, u inkatru l-liberta, il-paċi, id-demokrazija, u dan l-ġid u l-barka kollha mal-Prim Ministru Dr Lawrece Gonzi fi' gvern ieħor na

L Mizzi

Sep 21st 2012, 15:31

@ Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina

My Choice for health, work & education...?

Int bis-serjeta` siehbi? Minn daqs dawk affarjiet is-Sahha semmejt? Fuq id-dizastru li sar fil-qasam tas-sahha, huwa bizzejjed biex ma nivvotax PN... Waiting lists ma jispiccaw qatt... Emergenza tistenna nofs ta` nhar biex jarawk u granet biex ituk sodda... stretchers fil-kurituri... staff demoralizat u ghajjien... hela ta` spazju... sptar bla sodod... Promotions lil nies li anqas biss kienu kwalifikati... inkompli?

A Trapani

Sep 21st 2012, 18:33

L.Mizzi.... X'se jaghmel differenti JM ghidli please. At least we do have a hospital which is state of the art and although there are some difficult issues to tackle, some of them mentioned by you, there are many other departments doing just fine and providing professional services on a daily basis. Ftakar illi ghal labour, Mater Dei kien kapricc Ta Fenech Adami u Kieku ghadna b'St. Luke's.

Joseph Attard

Sep 21st 2012, 12:33

Forsi jrid jerga' jibda jissemma xi ftit hux! Ghax l-ahhar li saret l-elezzjoni parlamentari bata ftit biex tela u mnalla wiret ammont ta' voti f'daqqa, grazzi ghas-sistema bazwija tal-kunjomijiet

G Schembri

Sep 21st 2012, 12:56

I agree with you, it's a good thing we elected Dr Fenech Adami who started drilling soon after the 1

G Schembri

Sep 21st 2012, 12:57

I agree with you, it's a good thing we elected Dr Fenech Adami who started drilling for oil in the same place soon after he was elected in 1987.

G Schembri

Sep 21st 2012, 13:00

Malta never bought any nuclear weapons, let alone use them against the PN. Had the police used nuclear weapons against the PN you wouldn't be here to tell the tale.

Richard Caruana

Sep 21st 2012, 15:15

Neither would you, G. Schembri!

Mr Anthony Briffa

Sep 21st 2012, 12:04

Prosit Nenu.

Joseph Attard

Sep 21st 2012, 12:20

Hlief passat mhux kapaci issemmu. Erbhu l-argumenti bil-prezent. Wara kollox l-istorja tmur lura is-snin jekk trid. Imma intom tghazlu li ssemmu it-80 biss. Qatt ma ssemmu kemm nies laburisti batew fis-60. Jew dawk mhux nies kienu. Nahseb li mal-grajjiet li semmejt ta' zmien mintoff qabzulek xi grajjiet bhad-drittijiet li ta bhaz-zwieg civili u t-tnehhija tal-piena kapitali u kif refa' l-fuq lill-batut. Bilhaqq mad-delitti li saru fis-snin imdemmija , qbizt dak ta' Karen Grech.
M'ghandix eta' daqsek u ghalhekk nixtieq nitghallem: x'sar minnhom dawk il-puluzija li kienu prezenti fil-qtil ta' Debono?

Daniel Borg

Sep 21st 2012, 12:34

Jaqaw qed itik €500 extra mal paga? Jek fil kas andek ragun titbaqbaq daqsek...

JOE CUTAJAR

Sep 21st 2012, 12:38

L-anqas int ta`gewwa wkoll!

m. borg (slm)

Sep 21st 2012, 12:42

Tinsewx li l-qorti maltija iddikjarat li idejn l-oppozzizjoni ta' dawk iz=zmienijiet huma imcapssa bid-demm ta' Caren Grech.

Dwar Nardu Debono l-istess pulizija li kienu involuti barra l-kummissarju hadu l-promowxins minn gvern nazzjonalista tal 1987.

Sewa qal is-sur Attard mohkom fil-passat ghaliex maghadkomx vizjoni tal-futur, mintkomx ahjar minn nisa tat-toroq li jinfexxew jitghajru bil-makamenti ta' xulxin bhallikieku huma ma ghandhomx.

G Schembri

Sep 21st 2012, 13:04

Sur Nin, il-plitika ta Mintoff, icivilzzat il-poplu Malti, ghax edukat lil dik il-faxxa tas-socjeta li intom kontu tajruhom injoranti u hamali. Issa sur Nin difficili tergghu tidhku bihom.

A Trapani

Sep 21st 2012, 13:07

@ Joseph.... Mhux mal passant irridu inqablu jekk irridu nikkomparaw Liz zewg partiti ? Ittih tort Iil poplu malti jikkompara iz zminijiet t'issa ma zminijiet tat tmexxija laburista ?

Joseph Attard

Sep 21st 2012, 13:41

@ Trapani
L-ahhar gvern laburista kien fin-96. Imma f'dak iz-zmien ma tistax issemmi vjolenza ghax ma tezistix. allura tghazlu li tinjoraw u tipprovaw tbezzghu bil-vjolenza ghalkemm tafu li Dr Muscat qatt ma kien jappogga l-vjolenza u zgur mhux se jittollera jew jinstiga l-vjolenza

Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina

Sep 21st 2012, 15:10

@Joseph Attard,

Nikkwota:Hlief passat mhux kapaci issemmu. Erbhu l-argumenti bil-prezent.

Għall grazzja t’Alla moħħi għadu jiftakar mhux ħażin dawk iż-żmonijiet tal-biża Lejburisti, u ġismi għadu jħoss is-swat li tajtuna b’kull mod immaġinabli, u f’imnifseja għadni nxom il-gass jifgag f’tal-Barrani milll-marmalja pulizija Lejburista, u għalkemm għajneja għadhom jerquni bil-gas, ix-xeni degredanti tad-dbatijiet li sofra il-poplu Malti u Għawdxi għadni narahom ċari sallum, Sur Joseoh Attard!

Issa jekk inti ma jimpurtakx minn dan, affari tiegħek!

Mela l-aħjar ħu li tieħdu dan il-parir:

"Your choice is mychoice.pn. Your choice is voting for the PN for stability in the future you want to build. The PN is your choice for health, work and education,"

Kuraġġ Maltin u Għawdxin ejjew inħarsu din l-Indipendenza ta' Malta, u inkatru l-liberta, il-paċi, id-demokrazija, u dan l-ġid u l-barka kollha mal-Prim Ministru Dr Lawrece Gonzi fi' gvern ieħor nazzjonalista!

Joseph Attard

Sep 21st 2012, 15:42

Il-vjolenza hi hazina u kundannabli. Imma ma wegibt xejn mill-punti tieghi. Ha nerga' nistaqsik wahda biss: X'sar minnhom il-pulizija nvoluti fil-kaz ta' Debono?
Bilhaqq anke l-laburisti ghadhom mugugha.. ghax fis-snin 60 (li nahseb li int tiftakar) intefghu fin-nar tal-infern ghax kellhom ideal politku ( jew hekk kienu jbellghukom).
Tal-barrani ssemmuha hafna u naqbel mieghek li hi kundannabli imma . Qatt hsibt minn xiex kienu ghaddew il-laburisti meta maru l-meeting fit-tokk?
Qed insemmi l-passat biex inqabbillek. Ghax dak li sehh 30 jew 50 sena ilu hu irrilevanti.
Jien nemmen fil-futur.. futur li jghaqqadna

A Trapani

Sep 21st 2012, 18:38

Joseph Attard.... Futur li jaqqadna mall passat ghax jekk kif qed tghid int JM diffenti, Ta madwaru ghadom l-istess nies illi jiftakru u kienu involuti f'dawk iz zminijiet

josef pace

Sep 22nd 2012, 06:17

Hello sur Aquelina {NENU} Naqra Dak li tikteb inti u ma nafx jek ghandix nithak jew nipki ghax hlif bizza u twerwir ma nismax min ghandek u tajt dan ghala ux????????.

Forsi qied tibza ftit izejed nahseb ghax phal ma jajd il-malti il-kelb il-mismut kull ilma jahsbu mishu . Ttkelem fiz-zmien 70-80 biex twerwer in-nies jiena najt li dak iz-zmien saru afarijit tajbin u hzina ukoll .Imma jiena il-lum qied nejx u meta hasejt li MLP naqas il-fiducja tieghi kont tajta lil PN ghax ivutajt skont il-kuxjenza tieghi u ma jidispjacini xejn .

Imma lum mod ihor jiena najt mux nazjonalisti hzina imma gonzipn mexxa hazin ghax tisma niex min istes partit jadulek jekk ma tkun min ta gewwa mandekx cans u dan mux jiena qied najdu imma deputati nazjonalisti .

tiftah TV pn hlif glied intern bejn membru u ihor ma tismax ,Kliem ta bizza fuq zmien ta mintoff ma tismax u haluna ahna mahnix cwic maltin phal ma qalu xi membru parlamentarji il-lum naf nizen u nazel .

U min naha lohra tara Pl modern leader mimli energija u kurag u dan jisma min ant in-nies xjixtiqu u mux jadotawlu phal kungress li sar impresjonanti u ghalek jiena najt fejn hemm il-bizza hemm it-tama ,fejn hemm id-dlam jisbah id-dawl fejn hemm il-hazin hemm it-tajeb u dan jimlini kurag kbir sihbi u mux biza .

mela kull hadd ghandu mohh biex jahseb u sewwa jerbah zgur u la ha noqod najt jiena lil min trid tivota u lanqas hadd ma ghandu drit jat dan tinsix li fil-kamra tal-vot wahdek tkun u qabel nivota nirifleti u nahseb muz fil-bizza li tikteb inti ima fdawk afarijit phal 600euro zida per week li hadu ministri u lina tawna cucata, fuq ariva ta zmien il-buzuloti ser jispica,fuq divorzju drit civili u PM baqa jivota kontra avolja nies riduh dan id-drit u katidral ta san gwan insoma elf haga ohra u qabel nitlaq il-transfers vendikativi li inti qied isejah li kiku jitla PL isiru il-lum jekk phali turi li mintix taqbel ma tmexija ta gonzipn taqlaha ukol naf xqied najt jiena minix kontra partit nazjonalista imma kontra tmexija ta gonzipn .

ex PN

Eric Sammut

Sep 21st 2012, 11:40

Never a boot licker?? You mean he licked the wrong boots. Can you believe what he put the island through? And I wonder what the untold story is. So much for showing the cold sholder to the west. Can you imagine what would of happend if Mintoff got killed in Libya? They would of first blame the west, than take over the island in an excuse to protect it. Thats politics for you.

Jo Camm

Sep 21st 2012, 11:04

Karl, dak li l-bniedem jaghmel, jghix warajh.

Gianninu Saliba

Sep 21st 2012, 11:30

Jo Camm, what you really mean is "the evil that men do lives after"... and the man in question did a lot of evil. So much so that he said more than once that he is prepared to make a pact with the devil. Hopefully, the devil never accepted the offer.

Ivan Grech Mintoff

Sep 21st 2012, 11:11

If you even bothered to read what JAM wrote then you wouldn't even have asked such a silly question....

Antonio Micallef

Sep 21st 2012, 12:30

Hey, are you for real?

Joe M Borg

Sep 21st 2012, 13:15

Gonzi just hugged him like leaders hug each others, for the camera. It seems that Mintoff's hug was beyond that! Submarines, party funding, Gaddafi's decoration...... Gaddafi NEVER decorated Gonzi like he did Mintoff, because Gonzi wasn't dancing to Gaddafi's tune.

Edward Gatt

Sep 21st 2012, 14:00

@ Paul Bajada

Do you know who was the first foreign leader that Joseph Muscat visited when he became Leader of the Opposition? THat's right - Gaddafi!

Do you know what was discuseed? I don't!

Anthony A. Mifsud

Sep 21st 2012, 13:58

Why don't you do a direct challenge to Dottre Montaldo, ya hassra, imsiken.
Ninu

Francis Saliba M.D.

Sep 21st 2012, 16:23

@ Anthony A Mifsud, today at 13:58.

What do you mean exactly? Do you want me to challenge Dottore Montaldo to a duel with rapiers in Sda Stretta?

I have no quarrel with Dr Attard Montaldo for saying it as it is - better late than never! My quarrel is with the LP fanciers of the "blood brother" quasi-vassal bond forged by Mintoff & Co. with that monster.

Mr Anthony Briffa

Sep 21st 2012, 12:25

Sur Mifsud it looks like you are not familiar as to how Arabs great each other and their guests. The Arabs greet their guests either with a hand shake or a hug. Reciprocating in the same way is only natural. One has to live in an Arab country to get to understand these customs.

Please stop, you and your ilk, to fuss about Dr. Gonzi's hug with Gaddafi. It is a very lame way to excuse Mintoff's dangerous friendship with Gaddafi.

Malta gained only unfavourable publicity in the western world through this friendship. This explains that whilst the West was booming during the 70's and 80's, we in Malta were nursing the biggest ever unemployment register and our standard of living was in doldrums.

So much for the golden years, Mintoff economics and foreign policy.

Anthony A. Mifsud

Sep 21st 2012, 13:32

Sur Briffa,
I think I've spent enough time there to know the insides outs, of the Libyan culture, and you should know better that, what you had argued is totally wrong as the Libyans Only hug one another when there is a true friendship..
Those doomed days that you mentioned I happened to be in Libya, while others where serving in the local forces happily gaining money that Minoff got fom such friends.
Hence, you should be greatfull to have such memory of such a great man like Duminku Mintoff.
Sahha.
Ninu.

M. Bezzina

Sep 21st 2012, 10:27

Even Gonzi had....the same friend of Mintoff....

Joe Fenech

Sep 21st 2012, 10:33

All the world (including America) was Gaddafi's friend!

Michael Schembri

Sep 21st 2012, 12:44

And the Pope too shook hands with him.

Arthur Taliana

Sep 21st 2012, 11:11

In G B O's time we actually had a US naval vessel with nuclear heads on board scraping against the grand harbour's break water.

Joe Muscat

Sep 21st 2012, 12:38

What difference would it have made....? To people like you...what is credible?

Anthony Scicluna

Sep 21st 2012, 14:08

@Joe Muscat
A lot of things are credible as long as they may be verified. This is absolutely unverifiable and does more harm then good because it sheds bad light on who said it on Mintoff and on Labour. There again, that's a good thing

Antonio Micallef

Sep 21st 2012, 12:27

.....how about the national risks he took? Was that justified? I think not.

Joe M Borg

Sep 21st 2012, 13:21

What GENIUS are you talking about? Balancing foreign policy?? Being closer to Libya, North Korea, China,et al, rather than the West!! What BALABCE do you see here? Please enlighten us!

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