Former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici hit out at the government and the opposition today, saying that  statements they had made about amending the Constitutional provisions on neutrality would only serve to weaken this concept.

Speaking at a press conference in his capacity as an official of the Campaign for National Independence, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that the fact that the two sides were not saying they would strengthen neutrality but they wanted to change the current provisions, showed that they would weaken it. 

The EU, he said was developing into a military alliance and Nato, which was previously based on defence, was increasingly assuming an offensive role, as evidenced by its actions in the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Libya.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the way Malta had participated 'silently' in the campaign against Libya violated the Constitution, more so as actions taken by Nato against that country went beyond the previsions of the Security Council authorisation.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici also hit out at the fact that both the government and the opposition were in agreement that Malta should continue to participate in Partnership for Peace. Malta's participation, he said, was already violating the constitution because in terms of the constitution Malta could not participate in a military alliance. Nato was a military alliance, and Partnership for Peace was part of it.

Turning to the agreement in principle between the government and the opposition on a constitutional amendment on budget discipline, Dr Mifsud Bonnici expressed doubts that the EU really wanted its member states to bring down their deficits and debts. Had that been the case, he said, rather than allowing a deficit of 3% of the member states' GDP, the EU should have called on its member stated to have a surplus of 3%, thus being in a position to reduce their debts.

On the worsening situation between Israel and Iran, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that Malta should clearly declare that it is against any military action and it would work diplomatically to resolve the problem.