The parliamentary secretary responsible for the environment, George Pullicino, yesterday insisted that some of the statements contained in the document issued by the Hunters' Federation presented a distorted picture of the situation.

He said the government would in the coming days set up an executive and autonomous Ornis committee that would include representatives of hunters' organisations that would decide on hunting and trapping matters.

Earlier this week, the Federation of Hunters and Trappers said it was still not convinced that trapping would be allowed to continue beyond 2008 under the package negotiated by the government with the EU.

In a paper entitled "The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth", the federation said that although Foreign Minister Joe Borg last month gave his assurance in writing that trapping would not cease after five years of membership, the federation was still not convinced that this was the case.

But Mr Pullicino yesterday said the truth was that none of the traditional hunters and trappers would lose any rights and they would continue to practise their traditions albeit in a more controlled but a guaranteed and tolerant environment.

He said the government appealed to all hunters and trappers to check the facts and confirm this by taking a look at the existing regulations and the negotiations package.

The government also appealed to hunters and trappers to beware of the false picture presented by the Labour Party and to look on European Union membership as a guarantee for long term sustainable hunting and trapping practices in Malta and Gozo.

He said that in discussions held in 1999 with hunters' organisations, it was suggested that the hunting regulations introduced by the Labour administration did not reflect the period when birds migrated. Therefore, it was proposed that such regulations should be amended.

On the issue of negotiations with the EU, Mr Pullicino said that hunters' organisations had countless meetings with the government. Many of the arguments and documentation presented to the government were used in the negotiations.

"The government also paid the expenses of an expert chosen specifically by hunters' organisations to discuss matters related to hunting and trapping issues. Many of the suggestions put forward were taken and discussed at length with the European Commission.

"In the negotiations, the most favourable package for the Maltese hunter and trapper was concluded. Some of the hunters' and trappers' organisations continue to insist that they were not consulted, even though the number of meetings held with the hunters' and trappers' organisations proves the contrary."

Mr Pullicino explained that the Labour Party was also erroneously stating that there would be no trapping after 2008.

On the trapping of finches, he reiterated there was no intention to stop trapping after 2008.

"Contrary to what the Labour Party is stating, Malta, if it becomes an EU member, will be the only member state to allow the trapping of finches. Till then, studies will be carried out to encourage where possible the breeding of finches and to ascertain the numbers that are required to ensure genetic diversity in the wild.

"On hunting and trapping in spring, the derogation under article 9 of the Birds Directive to hunt and trap turtle doves and quails was communicated and accepted by the European Commission at the negotiations stage."

The government had always argued successfully that the number of turtle doves and quails captured in spring was sustainable and within acceptable limits.

Malta would implement the derogation every year. This was diametrically opposed to a procedure whereby Malta would have to apply to the EU every year in order to be able to implement the derogation.

He also said the number of birds hunted and which was presented to the commission was based on figures collated by the hunters' organisations and not those compiled by environmentalists.

"Both the Labour Party and some hunters' organisations conveniently forget that this government has guaranteed that Malta is the only candidate or member state to have negotiated a pre-accession derogation according to article 9 for the hunting and trapping of turtle dove and quail.

"Malta is the only candidate or member state to have negotiated a pre-accession acceptance for the continuation of trapping by the use of personally operated clap nets for trapping," Mr Pullicino said.