I refer to the letter by Peter Gatt (November 16).

The Malta-Libya median line was established by experts in the Seventies in accordance with internationally accepted practice. The same median line was presented by Malta at the International Court of Justice through Malta’s application to intervene in the 1978 Tunisia-Libya case.

Government today uses the same median line. This median line has been accepted by all administrations since the Seventies and reflects Malta’s official position. While I do not wish to interfere with freedom of information, this matter concerning maritime boundaries deals with vital state issues involving our sovereign rights and therefore I urge great caution and attention to ensure avoiding the spreading of misinformation which could prejudice our legal rights.

With regard to the discussion programme Fatti on RTK radio (November 7), I would like to clarify that my comment was in connection with a map published by The Times on September 15 with an article entitled ‘We’re drilling in the dark’.

The map showed maritime boundaries which are prejudicial to Malta’s continental shelf claims both to the west and to the south and I am hereby registering Government’s opposition to these boundaries which are unacceptable. On November 16, Government asked The Times for the source of this map however this was not communicated until the time of sending this reply.

Government has always objected through diplomatic channels to any attempts made by neighbouring countries that would prejudice Malta’s sovereign rights. The wells planned by BP, referred to in Dr Gatt’s letter of November 16, are south of the above-mentioned Malta-Libya median line.

Government has also objected on many occasions to maps published by research and other institutions and as a consequence the maps were amended to respect Malta’s sovereign rights.

However, one must appreciate that in the case of EU-funded studies, in which the Government of Malta has representatives present during intermediate reporting, vetting of maps is possible. In other cases, such as in the case of the maps published by The Times on September 15 and November 16, Government was not consulted and therefore did not have the opportunity to enlighten the author or cartographer of the Government’s position.

Editorial note: The map published in The Times was a diagram from Dr Gatt's original presentation.