The hunters' federation said today that it was looking forward to a meeting with the Prime Minister to clarify issues on hunting and trapping.

The FKNK insisted that the government was responsible to open the hunting and trapping seasons.

"The FKNK wants the same human EU citizen rights for its members as those enjoyed by hunters and trappers in other EU Member States. In this respect, the FKNK expects the Maltese Government to stand by its promises and exercise a strong political will to restore traditional hunting and trapping in the Maltese islands, to give back the primary part of the Maltese way of life that was so unjustly stolen away from Maltese hunters and trappers."

The federation said it had submitted two reports at the Malta Ornis Committee, on Spring hunting and on trapping. Both reports are due to be discussed in the coming weeks by the Ornis Committee ahead of any recommendations that may be due by the committee to the Prime Minister.

The FKNK said it had written to the Prime Minister offering its assistance since it felt that a satisfactory solution had to be found.