Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday called for a formal treaty of cooperation between the European Union and the new Arab democracies.

The EU should offer Arab countries a strong economic, social, ecological and political perspective through a formal treaty of cooperation in the Mediterranean, AD chairman Michael Briguglio said yesterday.

“It is a feather in Malta’s cap that the 5+5 summit is being hosted here. We fully support the democratisation of the Arab world following the events of the Arab Spring.”

Dr Briguglio said the Arab Spring showed that history could be rewritten through popular uprisings against authoritarian rule. However, he pointed out, this did not mean that pertinent issues revolving around human rights, social justice and ecology should now be ignored.

“Libya should ratify the Geneva Convention so as to do away with atrocities concerning immigrants. Women and various minorities in countries like Libya, Egypt and Tunisia should have their rights guaranteed.

“Issues concerning sustainable use of water and the risks of nuclear energy should be given the importance they deserve,” he said.