The government and the opposition have locked horns while saying they want cooperation on national security issues.

On Sunday, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the Opposition wanted to cooperate with the government on national security, but the government should not be aggressive when faced with criticism.

Yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs said cooperation meant responsible behaviour and an end to sowing fear.

The PN this morning said Mr Abela's speech was divisive.

"Instead of accepting the Opposition’s call, he launched a senseless tirade against the Leader of the Opposition," it said, adding that it had now  become a distinctive feature of the Labour government to sow division instead of unity.

"It is ridiculous that Minister Abela attacked the Opposition on security when he has single-handedly presided over the most serious security breach in our country in the last years. Minister Abela is politically responsible for Identity Malta which has issued 14,000 residence permits to non-EU nationals in just one year. And for 7,000 visas granted by the Maltese consultate in Algeria in just eighteen months. These permits and visas have been riddled with allegations of corruption and a number of people have even been arraigned in court," the PN said.

"Whilst opening this major security breach with non-Schengen countries, the minister has re-imposed controls with Schengen countries despite claiming that no security risks came from Europe," the party added.

"This is the real contradiction coming from a Government and a minister that are more interested in sowing division than working for unity." 

GOVERNMENT: OPPOSITION HAS TO SHOW RESPONSIBILITY

In a reaction, the Office of the Prime Minister said that after 'irresponsibly' trying to sow fear on Malta's security ahead of two world summits held successfully in Malta, the Opposition was calling for unity on security issues.

"The Opposition leader has spared no opportunity to put all responsibility solely on the Prime Minister, basically saying that if anything went wrong, it would be the Prime Minister who would have to answer for it. The Prime Minister shouldered that responsibility and took all the necessary decisions and measures to keep Maltese and guests safe.‎ This including keeping the Schengen rules suspended, something the Leader of the Opposition disagreed with.

"Throughout the events, the Opposition continued with the scaremongering through its media.

Now that Malta, through the professional work of its Forces, was successful in getting the job done, the Opposition wants to jump on the bandwagon and is calling for "unity".

"Unity on security is needed at all times, especially when important decisions need to be taken, and is not an a la carte affair.

"Government is convinced that there was a genuine sense of national unity and pride, that the Opposition‎ failed to notice during these events."

The OPM said it was up to the Opposition to make up for this failure and to show some responsibility.

"The first sign should be to stop using its media to try to dent the results Malta is achieving."

See minister's speech at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151130/local/minister-welcomes-opposition-change-of-heart-on-national-security.594102

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