The Italian Foreign Minister has hailed the 'special relationship' that exists between Malta and Italy and said the two countries can do a lot more together.
Giulio Terzi, who is in Malta today, wrote in The Times that Italy and Malta have both the chance and the responsibility to build a model of a bilateral and mature cooperation for the Mediterranean and beyond. This, he said, was the purpose of his visit.
"Our discussions will be focused on bilateral issues, namely those resulting from the absence of agreed boundaries between us, such as rescue at sea or the continental slope. We have no solutions yet. Those that were put on the table up to now have led us nowhere. However, both sides are ready to understand, listen and together explore ways forward, wanting to avoid the speculation that blurs the special relationship that binds us.
"We will also tackle pressing issues for Malta, such as the need to accelerate the interconnector project that will bring electricity to Malta from Sicily, and to avoid, or, at least limit, airwave interferences," he said.
"Equal attention will be paid to our economic and social relations in an attempt to foster cooperation between many outstanding companies in both countries, especially SMEs.
We will also tackle pressing issues for Malta, such as the need to accelerate the interconnector project that will bring electricity to Malta from Sicily, and to avoid, or, at least limit, airwave interferences
"We have to strive possibly even harder, within a broader perspective and keeping our regional role in mind, particularly in the current North African and Middle Eastern phase, where we need to also strengthen the Mediterranean dimension of European external action. This was the spirit of the visit that Dr Borg and I, along with other colleagues, recently paid to Cairo."
Sig Terzi said that the European Union itself needs the support of all its members.
"The current economic and financial threat should not divert us from the European path. Quite the contrary.
"It would be naïve to think that, if everyone went their way, we could shelter ourselves from the crisis.
"The European identity should be further consolidated, strengthening its democratic institutions while respecting the features of each one of its members, which constitute the uniqueness and high value of our Union."
He said that it was not by chance that his visit to Malta was taking place on the eve of the UN General Assembly at the end of the month and the 5+5 summit, which Malta will host at the end of October. In both cases, the collaboration between Malta and Italy was instrumental.
"To mention but two instances: our common determination in favour of religious minorities and tolerance, an issue that will be looked at closely in New York in an event advocating reflection and action open to all civil society; and our efforts in assuring, since the ministerial preparatory meeting that took place in Rome last February, that the timely Maltese initiative of calling and hosting the 5+5 summit will be a success, relaunching, at the heads of state and government level, an important collaboration for the Mediterranean midwest."
The Italian Foreign Minister is having talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and will call on President George Abela. The two countries will set up a mixed commission to discuss issues involving the two countries.
See text of opinion piece at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120912/opinion/A-lot-more-to-do-together.436576