<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7901260668757816763</id><updated>2012-01-30T10:01:53.994+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Dom Mintoff</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Dom Mintoff</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08232291556243418128</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>6</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7901260668757816763.post-1815556716517837149</id><published>2007-12-04T08:35:00.000+01:00</published><updated>2008-02-02T23:23:28.257+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Dom Mintoff writes to Hon Robert Mugabe</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/R1cfKAMPb-I/AAAAAAAAAGw/IgVKfidulT8/s1600-h/mugabe01.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/R1cfKAMPb-I/AAAAAAAAAGw/IgVKfidulT8/s320/mugabe01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140611756377206754" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;December 1, 2007&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;To the Rt. Hon Robert Mugabe,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Harare,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Zimbabwe&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;From Doctor Dominic Mintoff,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Emeritus Prime Minister and &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Founder of the Republic of Malta.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Held under surveillance by the C.IA.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;as directed by G.W.Bush.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dear President,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;We have not met since 1980, but I am sure you remember me.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I remember you and what happened at that time very clearly because as one grows older one’s memory works better for something way back.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Jim Callaghan was Prime Minister of LABOUR Britain.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I had already rendered Malta and Britain sterling services in connection with Cyprus, Uganda etc., including the British LABOUR PARTY who had kept close relations with me through the FABIAN SOCIETY and were well aware of my views – independent socialist to which I adhered throughout my long political life.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Jim Callaghan through John Prescott asked me to mediate a closer collaboration between Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe so that the economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Ian Smith’s Southern Rhodesia – even when Bishop Muzorewa took over the reins of governance – could be lifted.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It would benefit everyone, Jim had stated.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;This statement I began by checking as soon as I met you and Joshua.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I began by telling you that Malta stood to make a political moral gain (which is far more remunerative, more long-term than an immediate material profit) if the two elected representatives of the African inhabitants of Southern Rhodesia confirmed. It was also advantageous for the advancement of majority rule irrespective of race or religious belief.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;It took only two meetings at my private residence at “L-Gharix” in Delimara after my customary bathe in Peter’s Pool when the representatives of the Patriotic Front after joining me and my friends at lunch came to an understanding that isolating Ian Smith who had joined Britain’s armed forces and fought bravely Adolf Hitler as a pilot and lost one eye when the Nazis brought him down. (Incidentally Ian Smith&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;- courageous and incorruptible – died a week ago still opposing Black majority rule and oddly enough still believing it was his Christian duty to do so.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He died living in freedom and interviewing journalists in the capital of Zimbabwe.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;While the same journalists were telling the “Western Media” that Robert Mugabe was a cruel autocrat suppressing human rights etc.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/R1cfawMPb_I/AAAAAAAAAG4/UJag3HfPshw/s1600-h/mugabe02.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/R1cfawMPb_I/AAAAAAAAAG4/UJag3HfPshw/s320/mugabe02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140612044140015602" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;What I know about you comes to me through and intelligent sifting of features published in the quality weeklies of the United States of America and Great Britain.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I know that Gordon Brown will not meet you directly because the meeting will be given great publicity and Gordon Brown has no moral or political gain to make through such a publicity.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Even now I am finding it most difficult to contact you since I do not know your Fax number or that of your Parliamentary Private Secretary and my “honorary” is asking your London Embassy to forward to your P.P.S the Fax addressed to him including my blog spot number:http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com which will have my fax to you recorded so that you may read it at your ease and so will the world if they bother to use the internet.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;I do all this because your record is similar to mine and I am sure that in Zimbabwe you have done the correct political and moral duty when you distributed the spoils of freedom to freedom fighters instead of distributing weapons by joining the “white” overlords and enriching yourself as a dictator.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;How can I help you and at the same time help Malta and the rest of humanity (India, China, Korea, North and South, South Africa, The Emirates etc.) where I have friends to whom I could introduce you if you do not already know them? &lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Believe it or not we have allies for global peace (not a PAX&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;AMERICANA or PAX GALLICA or PAX TEUTONICA) bur a PAX HUMANA blessed by social justice where brothers live and work alongside brothers in their endeavours for moral and material happiness by sustainable means based on free and forward moving nations or group of nations.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;For a start it might help you to go to your meeting with sovereign states via Libya and seek the cooperation of the President of Libya to secure your personal safety.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It might even be advantageous both to Zimbabwe and Libya if you and my friend President Gaddafi stopped in Malta and spoke to our people in the best way you may devise.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Yours sincerely&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dom Mintoff&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7901260668757816763-1815556716517837149?l=peritmintoff.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/feeds/1815556716517837149/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7901260668757816763&amp;postID=1815556716517837149&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/1815556716517837149'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/1815556716517837149'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/2007/12/dom-mintoff-writes-to-hon-robert-mugabe.html' title='Dom Mintoff writes to Hon Robert Mugabe'/><author><name>Dom Mintoff</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08232291556243418128</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/R1cfKAMPb-I/AAAAAAAAAGw/IgVKfidulT8/s72-c/mugabe01.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7901260668757816763.post-8423806845042065716</id><published>2007-10-29T09:33:00.000+01:00</published><updated>2008-02-02T23:31:31.237+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Dom Mintoff writes to Hon PM Dr Gonzi 5h July 2007</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZO7Ge0SVI/AAAAAAAAAFY/IPp_iE4qiYg/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZO7Ge0SVI/AAAAAAAAAFY/IPp_iE4qiYg/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126872003067005266" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"  &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUy2e0SNI/AAAAAAAAAD4/uMX4br2vq_I/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUy2e0SNI/AAAAAAAAAD4/uMX4br2vq_I/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126174770961074386" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dr. Dom Mintoff,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Emeritus Prime Minister,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Founder of the Republic of Malta,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;“The Olives” Xintill Str.,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Tarxien.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; July 2007.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;The Rt Hon Dr. L. Gonzi,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Auberge de Castille,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Valletta.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dear Prime Minister,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dear colleague,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;About 3 weeks ago your trusted new colleague, the Parliamentary secretary for Justice and I had an URGENT and CONFIDENTIAL talks.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;we also agreed it was proper for him to seek your formal approval before taking any further action.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It seems that the stay in Valletta of the President of the Commission of the European Union was so short that the Hon Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici did not find it possible to consult you before the departure of the President.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; n&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;In all this hurry scurry, when it seems that our PM and the parliamentary Secretary for Justice had to attend high level talks in separate European locations, the Maltese officer who had typed the draft of our joint letter sent it to the President signed only by myself.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I took the precautions to instruct her to forward a copy of this letter to the Maltese Prime Minister.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I do not doubt that she has done so although this confusion had so frightened her that she refused to give me a written confirmation.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;To me all this mess was sadly reminiscent of the disastrous consequences of the Barroso initiation as President of the European Commission – a very unfortunate coincidence with your perversely stormy snatching of the helm as PM of our sun drenched Islands.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I am certain you still keep the records as a souvenir of your early times when the emeritus Prime Minister, our colleague, Dr. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and I, had, together with Libya’s plenipotentiary, speedily prepared a solution for the vexed problem of immigration which, if Barroso had displayed more political maturity at that time, would have spared the terrible tribulations afflicting all of us today.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I never came to know exactly how your role in those rueful circumstances had come to an end; you never met me face to face since those unhappy days.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"  &gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;Incidentally immigration is no longer a merely EURO-MEDITERRANEAN problem.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It has to be globally solved by all nations who hold the fundamental value of the heroism of peace much higher than the narrow and cruel fanaticism of war.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;But I feel a discussion with you on this most vital issue in the presence of the People parties of Italy – with whom my colleagues and I, despite our socialist divide, had a friendlier relationship than&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUp2e0SMI/AAAAAAAAADw/3fzBcVrXpP0/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUp2e0SMI/AAAAAAAAADw/3fzBcVrXpP0/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126174616342251714" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZRH2e0SWI/AAAAAAAAAFg/Jspy1WYf4xg/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZRH2e0SWI/AAAAAAAAAFg/Jspy1WYf4xg/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126874421133592930" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;the “Nationalist” Party during my very long watch over the destiny of our Islands – you did not wish to have just now.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Whilst Europe is feet-dragging, the rest of the world is changing very fast.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;During my very active time we had already started afforestation on a very large scale, the increase of the depth of our waters round our shores, made large land increments towards Comino, Filfla and Gozo.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We launched also a very profitable Oil Exploration drive with the concomitant competition of the leading oil barons of the capitalist West who were happy to pay for the privilege.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;We did all this and more in order to assuage our constant concern that our people, if struck by panic in a calamity, lacked the physical space for a safe refuge to children, pregnant mothers, hospital patients and senior citizens.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;An array of ostriches digging their beautifully curved necks in the san shows more common sense than all our conferences of local and foreign experts which happily ignore the unpleasant fact that if today an earth tremor&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;of a moderate dimension or an inundation such as the one that struck Rome last week would cause enough panic to extinguish all life on these Islands for many generations to come.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Think of that and then tell me – the one who is held like a leper incommunicado in his water infected home- whether it is not a totally sadistic madness that allows George W. Bush to expose so many innocent lives to extinction without providing them with any protection against terrorist reprisals.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Is this the civilization we wish to impose on a a frightened and restive Moslem and African world? Why are the Western media – the paladins of Western democracy – damnably silent about the truth?&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;WHY had we, the aspirants for transparency, marked CONFIDENTIAL our draft letter to Dr. Gonzi and Dr Barroso?&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;First.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Like unselfish reformers we wished to convert the powers that be to our side.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;there is no better fortune for genuine reforms than the consent of the powerful to engage in free discussions for a change of course by the ship of state.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;That was definitely our primary consideration.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;A secondary motive of perhaps a larger strategic import was the widely spread corruption&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I kept noticing during my enforced retirement from public life.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It tainted all sectors of our society including alas the noble performers of the radical change of our mediaeval social structure in our recent past.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It was a disease of moral fatigue that embraced the defeatist capitalist political philosophy “I shall look after myself, let Jack do the same”.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It is only one step short of the capitalist way of life £the more money I make the less I shall know what to do with it. the greater shall be the quantity that the down and outs shall look for in my refuse bins”.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"  &gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;What frightens most is how this moral decay has flowed down from the highest echelons of our tiny nation to the lowest of our street urchins.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;the cure must therefore start at the top to reach the bottom.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Meanwhile there seem to be generations of comparatively well-&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUfWe0SLI/AAAAAAAAADo/QT1T0DhZ7mw/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUfWe0SLI/AAAAAAAAADo/QT1T0DhZ7mw/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126174435953625266" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZSmWe0SXI/AAAAAAAAAFo/WblDrgQza4g/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZSmWe0SXI/AAAAAAAAAFo/WblDrgQza4g/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126876044631230834" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"  &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;to-do lads and lasses falling by the wayside as suicidal drug addicts or condemned to a slow death by HIV infections.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;If what I have been able to read in the progressive sectors of the American and British media is anything to go by, this malaise is endemic throughout all the nations of the old and new Europe, and presents a gloomy prospect for the bravest amongst us.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Nonetheless what I have personally undergone throughout eight and a half decades spanning the miseries of two world wars and rejoicing in the resurrection of my derelict country and of many other countries far and near, the miracle we need is the future does not have to be as big as the one we achieved in the old days through sacrifices, hard work and solidarity.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;And I stress my firm belief in a rosier future fully conscious of the Herculean magnitude of the moral and physical toil ahead.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;In taking our Malta as a model of what must be done, I include the rot that must be removed from our agriculture, fisheries, financial, medical &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;and transport services, cultural and educational facilities, leisure and sport.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Above all the rebirth of our moral values must be preceded by the reawakening of credibility on our political parties.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;And the dream I hold of humanity on the march, the vision I perceive of tolerance, kindness and mutual help from the cradle to the grave, shall overcome all the gloom and depression caused by selfishness in the past twenty years.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;But we must start now.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;And we have to move forward at a much greater pace if we wish to clean the stables we know best and then spring forward to greater heights.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;The Law Courts of Malta claim cleansing priority because it is the institution with which our powers that be are most familiar and the one on which the general public including many lawyers look with contempt.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;With so much evidence of fatigue and decay it is the institution most likely to have its ugly face washed and its political conservative bias abolished after our next national elections to the House of Representatives.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;In the House of Representatives sit our elected lawmakers and those members with the largest and next largest following are also entrusted with the task of forming a Government ands a shadow Government.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The technical name of the leader of the Government side is Prime Minister and in Parliament the word Government means the Prime Minister and all hers of his Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;The technical name for the Shadow government is the Opposition and the member leading it is technically called the Leader of the Opposition and his main assistants are the Shadow Ministers.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"  &gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;In Parliament the Leader of the Opposition holds a rank second in importance to that of the Prime Minister for his task is supposed to be double-pronged: outright opposition of those draft laws which he considers to be repugnant to the majority of the electorate with suggestions of scrapping them and replacing them with the legislation of his own&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUEme0SKI/AAAAAAAAADg/aI3cbjSQixs/s1600-h/IMG_0004.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPUEme0SKI/AAAAAAAAADg/aI3cbjSQixs/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126173976392124578" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZTAme0SYI/AAAAAAAAAFw/RuRb2NyIhUM/s1600-h/IMG_0004.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZTAme0SYI/AAAAAAAAAFw/RuRb2NyIhUM/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126876495602796930" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;devising which he knows some sectors of the electorate would be glad to approve but the Prime Minister cannot accept without losing face and support in the country.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;This second method of attack appears to be easy.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Yet it takes great skill and power of improvisation for the Leader of the Opposition not to appear vote catching and only genuinely concerned that the country has not been offered something better.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He does this although he knows that this could not have been done without conflict with the political creed of the Prime Minister.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The Leader of the Opposition must at the same time be very careful to show too much or too often or be tempted by a sudden opportunity for a sudden big catch which forces him to share crooked political creeds.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Such excesses are bound to lose him the support of the political activists within his party machine. The best machines of any Establishment supporting a specific creed be it political, religious, academic, theatrical, leisure-seeking or any other communal activity, are built by voluntary labour and countless small contributions.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It’s best run and oiled by the genuine oratory of its leaders with the rank and file and a sincere fraternization with the unpaid and self-sacrificing activists.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A party machine without unpaid activists is like a furnace without oxygen and heat can then be produced only by allowing organic matter to fester and rot.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;That is why my friends and I believe that and International fact finding commission representing those countries who show concern about the present and future of the Maltese people and believe in their immense potential to make and outstanding contribution for the achievement of global peace – China, India, Russia, the European Union, Algeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Australia and a United States of America without the ill-starred war mongering George W. bush, be invited to inquire what has stopped Malta’s institutions including its little army, its media, its banks etc from persevering along the paths of peace.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;But it is impossible to do this without first and immediately getting rid of the Commissioner of Police who instead of protecting civilians from being harmed by criminals has chosen to become the local head of intelligence in the service of NATO and CIA.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Kindly let me know possibly by next Tuesday whether you agree.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Yours very sincerely &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"  &gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dom Mintoff &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:180%;"  &gt;---0---&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7901260668757816763-8423806845042065716?l=peritmintoff.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/feeds/8423806845042065716/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7901260668757816763&amp;postID=8423806845042065716&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/8423806845042065716'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/8423806845042065716'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/dom-mintoff-writes-to-hon-pm-dr-gonzi.html' title='Dom Mintoff writes to Hon PM Dr Gonzi 5h July 2007'/><author><name>Dom Mintoff</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08232291556243418128</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZO7Ge0SVI/AAAAAAAAAFY/IPp_iE4qiYg/s72-c/IMG_0001.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7901260668757816763.post-3924557166258345253</id><published>2007-10-28T01:56:00.001+02:00</published><updated>2008-02-02T23:37:08.141+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Dom Mintoff writes to HE Mr J. M. D. Baroso Pres of the EU 14th June 2007 (Click on image to enlarge)</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZT_me0SZI/AAAAAAAAAF4/mYPJdTxJ2yw/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZT_me0SZI/AAAAAAAAAF4/mYPJdTxJ2yw/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126877577934555538" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPTUme0SJI/AAAAAAAAADY/ZivXRaW60fM/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPTUme0SJI/AAAAAAAAADY/ZivXRaW60fM/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126173151758403730" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Triq Xintill&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Tarxien&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;Malta&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;                        &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;            &lt;/span&gt;14thJune 2007&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b style=""&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b style=""&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;His Excellency Mr Jose’ Manuel Durao Barroso&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b style=""&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;President of the European Commission&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b style=""&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dr Mr President,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;1&lt;span style=""&gt;    &lt;/span&gt;Malta has been famous for her hospitality and kindness to all foreigners, regardless of colour of skin or religious belief.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Therefore a handwritten note jotted down in a big hurry just as you were arriving this evening is not a warm greeting to&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;welcome someone with whom I want to establish a friendship for the mutual benefit of my country and with whatever is left of the former European Union.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;2.&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;Of my academic distinctions, I treasure most the awards of a doctorate from the University of Athens for my small country’s great contribution&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;to the Mother of Western Democracies to regain her freedom from a dictatorship of colonialists, sponsored and financed by the C.I.A. of the U.S.A.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;While doing this on my watch we helped also to give a fair beginning to a rapprochement with the Moslems in Turkey by making use of our friendship with Kemal Ataturk’s Army successors.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I am sorry to point out that the European Union has failed to carry out a similar operation today, when circumstances are more favourable.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;3.&lt;span style=""&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;Another failure to which Malta and the E.U. now jointly have to make amends is the survival of our shipyards.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;These yards survived a similar threat in 1958 when Britain’s Minister of Defence, Churchill’s protégé Duncan Sandys, in order to conform with the quality of weapons of destruction by his allies France and Israel, shut down some British yards and included the Malta Dockyard.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;We had just then totally rejected the blandishment of the George Cross awarded to our people for their bravery in resisting the heavy and continuous air bombardments by the Nazi and Fascist planes of Hitler and Mussolini during the Second World War.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We unequivocally preferred to have the award by Britain’s monarch translated into freedom of our people to survive in peace with our neighbours; and in our quest for equal rights we were ready to consider union with Britain, provided it was offered on a basis of parity with the quality of life and standard of living of Britain’s citizens in Britain.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Otherwise, we preferred to have total independence without any bonds whatsoever with Britain’s Empire.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPS0We0SII/AAAAAAAAADQ/3KHSXWMP7s8/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPS0We0SII/AAAAAAAAADQ/3KHSXWMP7s8/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126172597707622530" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZUNme0SaI/AAAAAAAAAGA/WSKub9GntEk/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZUNme0SaI/AAAAAAAAAGA/WSKub9GntEk/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126877818452724130" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;When one considers how the entire livelihood of our people had been subordinated to Britain’s need of a fortress. When one remembers that the Island’s Christian faith, totally dominated by a Catholic establishment relying entirely on the Vatican for its survival in protestant fortress, one realises how high were these objectives – our opponents in Britain called us the brave children of a “convent fortress”. Yet our earnestness and the credibility of our record were such that the years &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;1955-1958 will be long remembered as the most heroic of our Island’s history.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;4.&lt;span style=""&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;Towards the end of 1942, the Second World War conflict was reaching the peak of its fury and the workers of Malta, encouraged by trade union chiefs holding posts in Britain’s civil service attached to war departments, woke up to the necessity to discard the protection of the Catholic Establishment by adopting statutes of lay religious confraternities and set up real trade unions as we know them today.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Because the number of such trade unions was small, the General Workers Union was born and only two other trade unions – Draughtsmen and Writes – carried on their independent course.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;And the leader of the new General Workers’ Union came from the Writers’ Union that had already gained some solid benefits to its members in Malta’s shipyards.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;It was in this background that the surviving activists in the pre-war Labour Party of Malta and new members recruited mostly from the trade unions that Malta’s LABOUR was resurrected in 1943.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Fresh from my experience in Britain and encouraged by comrades in Britain, it was easy for me to give a major contribution for turning Malta’s old LABOUR into a democratic socialist movement with the most liberal outlook and yet with the real interest of Maltese workers at heart.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;In the new setup, in which delegates from members in districts sent delegates to a national convention, I was democratically elected Deputy Leader and the pre-war Leader – Doctor Boffa – reconfirmed as Leader.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;5.&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;I did not have the time to survive economically (I had embarked on a private practice as an architect rebuilding the damaged dwellings of workers where these had not been literally razed to the ground), nor the cash and wish to satisfy the ambition to sit in a Parliament with a so-called “Self-Government Constitution” imposed by the British Emperor from Whitehall in which any mention of foreign affairs was banned in the Maltese side of the Dyarchy and the Monarch’s side of the Dyarchy had sway on every law enacted by the representatives of the Maltese people.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It was a Constitution that had elevated the privileges of the Catholic Establishment to the status of those of the Fortress: the security of the British Imperial Forces needed the reinforcement of the privileges of the local Catholic Clergy that followed the tide of progress lifting Britain’s Labour to supremacy in Britain but still entirely locked in its reliance of the economic sinews on its exploited colonies.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;The British Establishment in Malta aided and abetted by Lord Strickland’s Constitutional Party were able to have a Constitution imposed by Whitehall against the wishes expressed by Malta’s representatives in a convention in which the Church, the merchants and the traditional professionals enjoyed a representation greater in&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZUd2e0SbI/AAAAAAAAAGI/I5TOJH6et4c/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZUd2e0SbI/AAAAAAAAAGI/I5TOJH6et4c/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126878097625598386" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;community.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;6.&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;Despite this great handicap, this National Assembly succeeded in :&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;a) &lt;span style=""&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;abolishing the institutions of a Senate which would have been given a right of veto of all laws enacted by the House of Representatives; and&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;b)&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;giving the voting rights to women who apart from a few individuals which one could count on one’s fingers (amongst these to her credit Lord Strickland’s daughter), had not yet articulated their human rights and Malta’s nascent social democracy had scored a success not yet legislated in Italy, Germany, Austria and the other parts of Europe still suffering from their defeat and unconditional surrender in the Second World War.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;7.&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;What was still one of the greatest handicaps was the disproportion in the representation of the numbers of voters from &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;national elections to the House of Representatives, the lack of &lt;u&gt;responsible&lt;/u&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;local councils, the lack of freedom of speech which made criticism of the Church or Empire a criminal offence and worst of all freedom of thought and information that made liable to prosecution, even those citizens who dared to have in their possession the works of George Bernard Shaw.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The Sedition Act&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;was interpreted at will by the Imperialist Power to suffocate all divergence from Britain’s political will.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;8.&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;I hasten to emphasize this last point because the lack of freedom of thought is exactly what President George W. Bush has stealthily managed to impose on Malta in these turbulent times.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He was able to do so because his interest coincided with those influential conservative members of the European Community who took the Island by storm, stomped her conservative elements into and enthusiastic and prompt support of a European Union that for economic reasons subordinated her political rights to those of her American conquerors and hastened to set up a top-heavy Establishment before the new social forces in Russia, India, Asia and Africa had their say.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;9.&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;Mainly because I little dreamt that suppression of information and freedom of thought would land me for the past three years into a prison on parole in my own house that had endangered my life several times and made it impossible for me to reach the ears of the Maltese people, it seems now that I have reached the ears of the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and my last hope is that the European Commission, in the interest of Malta and their survival, would now stop putting spokes in the wheels and allow Strasbourg (to which both the United States and Russia are committed to abide) to give an independent judgement.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;10.&lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Even George W. Bush, whose sincerity and intelligence I respect, will soon realise that my stand to get the American people change their course from the prevailing mode of crass old imperialism &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;(which, with the awakening of new global forces clamouring for peace and social justice is now no longer realistic) to one of enlightened leadership that would still give the United States of America a prevailing role in the world’s destiny for many future generations.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPQXGe0SGI/AAAAAAAAADA/VIfg_6HzDdg/s1600-h/IMG_0004.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPQXGe0SGI/AAAAAAAAADA/VIfg_6HzDdg/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126169896173193314" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZU1We0ScI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/fIEyneax0qQ/s1600-h/IMG_0004.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZU1We0ScI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/fIEyneax0qQ/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126878501352524226" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;11.&lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Unlike me – he is about two decades younger that me – he has still a potential longevity in which he can fulfil his mission as an American adherent of the newly-born Christian faith.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;There is nothing to stop him from choosing ex-President Carter as a Christian ally.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;There is nothing to stop me and Malta to join them provided that global peace coupled with a modicum of social society becomes their political objective.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;12.&lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt; I hasten to conclude by declaring that provided I am allowed freedom of thought and action there is nothing to stop me from contributing to the wisdom that comes through experience to the global prosperity in pursuit of happiness.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;13.&lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;There is everything to gain by the European Union also changing course.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Let us please do it together.&lt;span style=""&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Yours sincerely,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dom Mintoff&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;i style=""&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Emeritus Prime Minister of Malta &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;i style=""&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;1955-1958; 1971-1984&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" &gt;-----0-----&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7901260668757816763-3924557166258345253?l=peritmintoff.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/feeds/3924557166258345253/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7901260668757816763&amp;postID=3924557166258345253&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/3924557166258345253'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/3924557166258345253'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post_4232.html' title='Dom Mintoff writes to HE Mr J. M. D. Baroso Pres of the EU 14th June 2007 (Click on image to enlarge)'/><author><name>Dom Mintoff</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08232291556243418128</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyZT_me0SZI/AAAAAAAAAF4/mYPJdTxJ2yw/s72-c/IMG_0001.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7901260668757816763.post-1125584678435137527</id><published>2007-10-28T01:21:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2008-02-02T23:40:35.638+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Dom Mintoff "The Future- Global order or chaos" (click on image to enlarge)</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"  &gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPPe2e0SFI/AAAAAAAAAC4/JgQxsrp1ofo/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPPe2e0SFI/AAAAAAAAAC4/JgQxsrp1ofo/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126168929805551698" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div  style="text-align: left; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:courier new;"&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;24&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; November 2005&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;THE FUTURE - GLOBAL ORDER OR CHAOS?&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Yesterday, Nov 23, 2005, Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland landed at Luqa Airport and proceeded for a warm welcome in Valletta from a Maltese Anglophile minority and some foreigners who waved Union Jacks as if utterly unaware that on March 3 1, 1979, Malta ceased to be the unsinkable British Nato Fortress.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;On that memorable day, Malta in order to survive in freedom chose to be neutral, siding neither with the all powerful Nato nor with the equally formidable Soviet Bloc. A city state Republic with a population of about one third of a million and a territory of one hundred and twenty one square miles, Malta dedicated her entire life to world peace and social justice.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;In that long transition from bondage to freedom not a single person was killed but tremendous hardships were endured by the Maltese workers and their leaders. In that proud achievement I played one of the major roles and some of my meetings with her Majesty were not purely ceremonial and must indeed have caused her some pain. Yet I found Queen Elizabeth always constitutionally correct and humanely kind. My home to which I am bound by my illness is only about one mile from Luqa Airport and my terrace is just a two minute walk from the bedecked with flags and flowers roundabout which her majesty finds on her way to Valletta. Had I been well I would have ventured out of my bedroom and from the terrace smiled and perhaps waved.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;To-day whilst I am writing on the desk next to my bed with my tapped telephone within reach, the afternoon air is much colder and through the window I see huge raindrops tapping the terrace in a maddening frenzy that makes me doubt whether the national march of protest planned by Malta' s General Workers Union on Republic Street in Valletta may be held at all.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-----&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;----&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPOX2e0SDI/AAAAAAAAACo/dDTnedeuVBo/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPOX2e0SDI/AAAAAAAAACo/dDTnedeuVBo/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126167710034839602" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;A telephone call, however, made, an hour or so later, by a colleague very active in the Malta Arise Front, relieved my anxiety when he assured me that women and men of the middle and working classes were already gathering in thousands.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;''The sky has mercifully given us a break'' said the peaceful militant, "and the crowd already assembled is large enough to stand or march in serried ranks to shield the protesters from the bitter cold'' Meanwhile another Front volunteer reported to me on his mobile that the Business Section of the Commonwealth Secretariat are suggesting through the Maltese minister; Austin Gatt - the bete noire of the local Maltese and English Press and the General Workers Union for betting publicly that our manufacturing industry is bound to disappear altogether in the very near future- the setting up of a Commonwealth I.T. Consortium.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;The star performer of this Section of the Commonwealth Heads of governments Conference is the spokesman for the English global aspirant Cable and Wireless who charmed the other businessmen present and starving for new ideas with his Company's plans for similar I.T. undertakings. The blatant courting of Cable and Wireless points to a probable weakening of Austin's links with the foremost businessman of the U.S.A. - the owner of Microsoft who has been encouraged to dominate the computer facilities of Malta's educational sphere. Austin's relations with the American mogul do not appear to be as warm as they were before his recent skirmish with the leaders of our General Workers Union.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;In the Sports Sector of this bi-annual Common Wealth Conference, the Chairman - a Jamaican with a very moderate patriotic attachment to the interests of his homeland - has appealed to Britain's ex-colonies to participate and sponsor the Common Wealth's sporting event for young Sportsman to be held in Australia in the very near future.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Referring specifically to Malta and Jamaica the Chairman mentioned that these countries do not have the adequate infrastructure to qualify as&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;----&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPOLGe0SCI/AAAAAAAAACg/p5p3jAETmOM/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPOLGe0SCI/AAAAAAAAACg/p5p3jAETmOM/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126167490991507490" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;----&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;successors to Australia in the foreseeable future. No one has raised the possibility that Jamaica may combine with other ex-colonies of the Caribbean's or easier for Malta to combine her commitment to participate by cooperating with the Maltese community in Australia and together with them sponsor teams or individuals to compete under a Maltese flag.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Such a cooperation could eventually be stronger when it comes to Canada's trun to host this CommonWealth showpiece. Otherwise there will be no moral or financial scope for these small countries to limit their economic resources and discontinue their participation in other international and more affluent sports organizations.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;In answer to my wish to have some information about the Section of Foreign Ministers of which I had never heard before their arrival in this country, my Socialist friend who is still very active in Malta's Foreign office and therefore does not want to divulge his name without his written approval, tells me; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;This sector was launched some time ago in order to shorten the stay of the Head of States away from their respective countries and have their Foreign Ministers arrive at the venue a day or two before the official opening of the Conference of the Heads of Government. Thus Blair has had three of his Ministers their affairs with their respective counterparts from the other ex-colonies. They also have the task to discuss new proposals of their own and polish in discussion other proposals submitted and circulated by the Common Wealth Secretariat.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;By this clever device it is hoped to stifle the mischievous interpretation given in some hostile quarters to the unfortunate informal appellation of the Conference as the Club of the Heads of States where the Heads of states and their spouses may spend a luxurious business - cum - leisure series of pleasant encounters with their counterparts. No one in his right senses in this turbulent age wishes to be interpreted as committing such peccadilloes at the expense of poor taxpayers.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Even against this somber background the assembled Foreign Ministers have not so far launched new initiatives. Not a single proposal that I have seen tabled - the alleviation of starvation in the poorest countries, the raising of living standards in underdeveloped states, cooperation on Security, promotion of Human Rights, the eradication of HIV and other infectious diseases killing other fellow humans by the millions, giving hospitality to&lt;br /&gt;----&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPN4Ge0SBI/AAAAAAAAACY/j0jLsBvUgo0/s1600-h/IMG_0004.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPN4Ge0SBI/AAAAAAAAACY/j0jLsBvUgo0/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126167164573992978" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;suicidal immigrants who prefer to face death rather than stay put in their African homes were a worse fate awaits them - are already subjects under&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;discussion by Britain, Malta and other African countries in more adequate international fora such as the European Union and the United Nations.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 10mm;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Blair and his Ministers seem to be of the opinion that the help of Common Wealth countries is needed for a reversal of their Foreign policy. Blair is evidently finding it very hard although he is now the head of all the member states to convince the European Union that he now wishes to discontinue his close relations with Bush in their wars in Iraq and elsewhere. These major errors have earned Blair the vituperation of the militants in his own Labour party and more deeds than words are required for Britain to have some credibility.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 10mm;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;But I don't see any chance that the present British setup would abide by the advice which you, for lack of an invitation to attend the Conference communicated to Blair to through the confidential contacts you had with the British High Commissioner of Malta.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 10mm;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;I take it that yours was a two pronged advice mainly: &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;a)&lt;span style=""&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;Blair should reform the Common Wealth Conference for which Britain's taxpayer forks out the greatest share of its expenses, by helping the small countries and the poorer ones like India and South Africa to have a new Common Wealth Organisation were they will be treated as equals and therefore would feel ready and willing to share all burdens for achieving the common goals of peace and a better quality of life for all human beings irrespective of their political or religious beliefs without any sexual, racial and colour of skin discrimination.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 74.7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;b)&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Blair should also before being forced to or voluntarily abandon his exalted office make amends by disavowing his neo- Thatcherite past and her war against Argentina which though in appearance seemed legal and legitimate has resulted without any gain to either side and the loss of tremendous amount of blood and much needed funds of the British and Argentine peoples.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;----&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;----&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPNZWe0R-I/AAAAAAAAACI/M7j1otYorsU/s1600-h/IMG_0005.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPNZWe0R-I/AAAAAAAAACI/M7j1otYorsU/s320/IMG_0005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126166636293015522" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;''I am a pessimist, I don't see how at your nanogerian age will happen in your lifetime. Much less do I believe that either Blair or Brown has the political guts to steer an immobile European Union and Bush's USA away from their imperialistic paths to those of peoples' power and peace" I do not share my friend's pessimism and if I had more space I would have explained in some length why I do not agree.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Dom Mintoff&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;-----0-----&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7901260668757816763-1125584678435137527?l=peritmintoff.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/feeds/1125584678435137527/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7901260668757816763&amp;postID=1125584678435137527&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/1125584678435137527'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/1125584678435137527'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/future-global-order-or-chaos-click-on.html' title='Dom Mintoff &quot;The Future- Global order or chaos&quot; (click on image to enlarge)'/><author><name>Dom Mintoff</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08232291556243418128</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPPe2e0SFI/AAAAAAAAAC4/JgQxsrp1ofo/s72-c/IMG_0001.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7901260668757816763.post-8640224145409650931</id><published>2007-10-28T00:56:00.001+02:00</published><updated>2008-02-02T23:49:52.227+01:00</updated><title type='text'>"Malta Arise Front" manifesto</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;Click on image to enlarge&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;---&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFqGe0R8I/AAAAAAAAAB8/5fi2BxW0y5A/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFqGe0R8I/AAAAAAAAAB8/5fi2BxW0y5A/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126158127962802114" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;-&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;25&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; October 2002&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Who are we?&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We are a small but brave people who survived without dominating and oppressing other communities. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Yet, no other country has suffered as much as Malta from the wars waged by others in the past. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Malta was given the highest possible decoration by Britain and the United States of America for her bravery during the last World War.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Yet, these countries denied Malta those means for survival which they had gladly given to their former enemies – those who were about to wipe out America and Britain during the biggest conflict the world has ever seen. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;As if this misfortune had not been overwhelming, Malta had to risk her entire existence in order to gain her freedom and independence from Britain and NATO – that freedom and independence recognized as the fundamental right of every nation. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;In spite of these grave offences, Malta chose the road of peace and friendship with the nations of the West as well as of the East.&lt;span style=""&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;This policy of neutrality enabled us to enjoy the greatest ever measure of political freedom and economic prosperity. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;However, owing to the fact that our national economy started to develop freely in the pursuit of peace at least thirty years after that of other European countries, we are not yet fully competitive in industry and commerce.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It would therefore be suicidal to abandon the road we have undertaken out of caprice, partisanship or deceit. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h3 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;What stage have we reached? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Malta has long felt the need to benefit from the moral and material incentives offered by European countries.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;This explains why 30 years ago we concluded an ‘Association Agreement’ with the European Economic Community.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;And that form of close yet not full membership with the Community was adopted as a model by those other countries who, like us, chose to work closely with the Community without the obligations and rights of full membership. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;----&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;It is worth remembering that in the early 1970’s at Helsinki Malta succeeded in convincing all the participating States that peace should not only be made secure for the countries of Northern Europe – there could be no European security without Mediterranean security.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;&lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Even more important was the fact that Malta, taking cognisance of its small physical size and population which rendered it impossible to raise modern arms for her defence resorted to secure her neutrality and freedom by concluding treaties with countries ranging from Western to Eastern Europe and the Arab world that guaranteed her sovereignty and neutrality.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;-&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFbWe0R7I/AAAAAAAAAB0/jIKVEvAWOdE/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFbWe0R7I/AAAAAAAAAB0/jIKVEvAWOdE/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126157874559731634" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Those are the international ties that still enable us to live in freedom today.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Doubtlessly , we would have advanced farther had we persevered in our previous efforts in all the civic sectors.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Focusing our attention on the industrial sector, we cannot but perceive that Malta grasped and exploited all the opportunities for development by setting up factories on her soil jointly with German, English, Italian, Libyan and other foreign industrialists. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h3 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Our Fundamental Values &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Taking into account all past pronouncements, everyone in Malta should agree on two fundamental values: peace and neutrality. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Why peace?&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;To survive Malta needs it more than any other country in the world.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Because of our diminutive size and the destructive power of modern armaments Malta will be wiped out entirely in a state of war.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;In one fell swoop we will lose everything that we achieved through years of toil in the pursuit of peace. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;In any new agreement with the European Union we should therefore stress that Malta’s efforts for peace should remain unhindered. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We could do more by underlining the need for the pursuit of peace by the European Union to which we would give our full contribution.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We would in particular be ready to share with the Union a common sovereignty solely in the affairs for the achievement of a common peace. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;This would naturally become easier when the European Union embraces neutrality and renounces all arms for wars of aggression. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;What is the meaning of our neutrality?&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We aspire for the elbow room and the opportunity to work alongside every State, people, community or individuals who, like us, are striving to bring all wars to an end so that we may all live like brothers in peace without injuring one another.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;&lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;&lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;  &lt;/h5&gt;&lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Is it possible to work closely with the European Union when we hold those values fundamental for the life of our country?&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The answer is yes.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We have tried in the past and we succeeded. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h3 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Only hard work can guarantee our prosperity &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We have another fundamental objective – safeguarding work in our country for that is the only means of increasing the wealth of our people. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We should therefore patiently explain to the European Union that Malta should not be burdened with regulations which might decrease work opportunities in our country and hamper our economic growth. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Such regulations, if implemented, would result in our inability to make any meaningful contribution to world peace.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Unless we become strong in the economic sense we will be denying ourselves the possibility to work for peace and help other people in the process. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;-&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;-&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFN2e0R6I/AAAAAAAAABs/M-OCl34YcUk/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFN2e0R6I/AAAAAAAAABs/M-OCl34YcUk/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126157642631497634" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;h3 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Only hard work can guarantee our prosperity &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We have another fundamental objective – safeguarding work in our country for that is the only means of increasing the wealth of our people. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We should therefore patiently explain to the European Union that Malta should not be burdened with regulations which might decrease work opportunities in our country and hamper our economic growth. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Such regulations, if implemented, would result in our inability to make any meaningful contribution to world peace.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Unless we become strong in the economic sense we will be denying ourselves the possibility to work for peace and help other people in the process. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;To reach all these objectives we must proclaim to our people the necessity for harder work, with judicious application, greater integrity and sustainable sacrifices. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We must do the utmost to call a halt to the national debt and wipe it entirely before it destroys our country. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Only if we succeed to do this shall we be able to leave our children and the children of our children a valid inheritance and not a millstone around their necks. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h3 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Our aspiration &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;In the past we have worked closely with a Europe intent, like us, on efforts to make peace possible in the Mediterranean.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We have done so without undue restrictions that might have hindered their work or ours. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We can see no new circumstance to oblige us or them to abandon the road which kept us together until today. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We strongly believe that it is in the interest of the European Union as well as of our own to reinforce the efforts we have made so far. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We see no gain in abandoning a proven road for a new one which to others might appear momentarily more attractive but which, in the long run, will bring all of us into grief. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;We hope that the European Union will concur fully with our views.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;But above all we are confident that all citizens of Malta and Gozo will agree with us that Malta should now arise. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;To all those who subscribe to our common objectives we appeal for joining the "Malta Arise" Front. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Dom Mintoff &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;  &lt;h5 style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;color:black;"   lang="EN-GB" &gt;Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;----0----&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFCGe0R5I/AAAAAAAAABk/vnmjMRSI260/s1600-h/IMG_0004.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFCGe0R5I/AAAAAAAAABk/vnmjMRSI260/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126157440768034706" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;h1 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;Min ahna? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;color:black;" &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ahna poplu zghir u qalbieni li kompla jghix minghajr ma hakem u kasbar gnus ohra. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoBodyText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Izda ebda pajjiz ma sofra daqs il-poplu Malti minhabba l-gwerer li saru fl-imghoddi. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Allavolja fl-ahhar gwerra Malta kisbet tifhir specjali mill-Ingilterra u l-Amerika ghall-qlubija li l-poplu Malti wera, b’danakollu dawna cahduna mill-ghodda ghall-ghajxien li huma wasslu bil-ferh lill-ghedewwa taghhom li b’cikka ma qerduhomx ghal kollox fl-akbar tilwima li qatt rat id-dinja. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Bhallikieku dan l-ghawg ghal Malta ma kienx bizzejjed, Malta ssugrat kolox sabiex tikseb l-indipendenza u l-helsien mill-hakma Ingliza u tan-NATO dak il-helsien li huwa dritt fondamentali ghal kull poplu taht il-kappa tax-xemx. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Malta nsiet l-ghawg u mxiet fit-triq ta’ paci u hbiberija kemm mal-pajjizi tal-Punent u ukoll tal-Lvant.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;B’din il-politika ta’ newtralita’ rnexxielna nkattru l-helsien politiku u niksbu l-akbar prosperita’ ekonomika li qatt ra pajjizna. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Izda, ghax ahna bdejna f’din it-triq millanqas tletin sena wara l-pajjizi l-ohra ta’ l-Ewropa, ghad ma ninsabux f’qaghda li nikkompetu maghhom fil-qasam industrijali u kummercjali.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Ghalhekk ikun &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;-&lt;br /&gt;-&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPE3me0R4I/AAAAAAAAABc/pViTX6af2dE/s1600-h/IMG_0005.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPE3me0R4I/AAAAAAAAABc/pViTX6af2dE/s320/IMG_0005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126157260379408258" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;suwicidju ghalina li nabbandunaw it-triq li qeghdin fiha b’kapricc, b’pika jew b’ingann. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;h1 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:70%;"&gt;Fejn ahna&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;color:black;" &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Malta ilha li hasset il-htiega li tikseb in`entivi morali u materjali mill-pajjizi ta’ l-Ewropa.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Ghalhekk tletin sena ilu ghamilna &lt;i style=""&gt;‘Association Agreement’&lt;/i&gt; mal-Komunita’ Ekonomika Ewropea, u dik il-forma ta’ shubija qrib il-Komunita’, izda mhux membru taghha, serviet ta’ mudell ghal pajjizi ohra li bhalna xtaqu li, minghajr ma jidhlu membri tal-Komunita’, jaghmlu shubija maghha. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Infakkru li, minkejja c-cokon taghna, fil-bidu tas-snin sebghin, f’Helsinki rnexxielna nwasslu lil kull pajjiz sabiex jaqbel li l-paci ma kellhiex issehh fl-Ewropa ta’ Fuq biss, izda kellha tinfirex ukoll fil-Mediterran. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Aktar importanti kien il-fatt li ghas-sigurta’, il-helsien u n-newtralita’ ta’ pajjizna, Malta, li tant hi zghira li mhux possibbli ghaliha li jkollha armati li jieqfu lil haddiehor, irnexxielha li taghmel trattati li jiggarantixxu s-sovranita’ u n-newtralita’ ta’ pajjizna ma’ pajjizi kbar, kemm ma' ta’ l-Ewropa tal-Lvant, kif ukoll ma’ ta' l-Ewropa tal-Punent, u anki mal-pajjizi tad-Dinja Gharbija. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dan sa fejn wasalna llum.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Ma hemmx dubju li konna naslu aktar, kieku bqajna nistinkaw fl-oqsma kollha.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Niehdu biss il-qasam industrijali  ahna htafna l-opportunitajiet li rajna u wzajnihom biex nizviluppaw ma’ industrijalisti Germanizi, Inglizi, Taljani, Libjani u ohrajn. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPEuWe0R3I/AAAAAAAAABU/LVx6TVf6eAQ/s1600-h/IMG_0006.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPEuWe0R3I/AAAAAAAAABU/LVx6TVf6eAQ/s320/IMG_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126157101465618290" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;h1 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:70%;"&gt;Il-valuri fondamentali&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;color:black;" &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Il-valuri fondamentali li kulhadd f’Malta ghandu jaqbel dwarhom huma tnejn: il-pa`i u n-newtralita’. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ghaliex il-paci?&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Malta tehtigilha l-pa`i aktar minn kulhadd.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Minhabba c-cokon taghna, bl-armi tal-lum f’pajjizna jinqered kollox bi gwerra.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Nitilfu kull ma ksibna s’issa bil-politika ta’ pa`i. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ghalhekk, fir-rabtiet taghna ma’ l-Unjoni Ewropeja rridu nassiguraw li l-hidma taghna ghall-pa`i tibqa’ bla mittiefsa. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ghandna naghmlu aktar minn hekk.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Ahna nemmnu li anki l-Unjoni Ewropea jehtigilha l-paci. Ghalhekk ghandna naghtuha l-kontribut taghna ghall-harsien tal-pa`i. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Jekk l-Unjoni Ewropea tasal biex thaddan politika ta’ paci billi tichad ghal dejjem il-gwerra, ghandna nkunu lesti naqsmu maghha dik il-parti tas-sovranita’ biex jintlahaq l-ghan komuni taghna tal-pa`i. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Xi tfisser in-newtralita’ ghalina?&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Tfisser li ahna jkollna l-ispazju, li jkollna n-nifs, li jkun possibbli ghalina li nahdmu id f’id ma’ kull nazzjon, poplu, komunita’ u individwu li bhalna jridu li jinqerdu l-gwerer u li l-bnedmin jghixu bhal ahwa, minghajr ma naghmlu hsara lil xulxin. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Hu possibbli nahdmu ma’ l-Unjoni Ewropea meta ghandna dawn il-valuri u htigijiet fundamentalissimi ghal pajjizna?&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Inwiegbu iva ghaliex fl-imghoddi pprovajna u rnexxielna&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPEeWe0R2I/AAAAAAAAABM/ujH69o1eKzk/s1600-h/IMG_0007.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPEeWe0R2I/AAAAAAAAABM/ujH69o1eKzk/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126156826587711330" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;h1 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:70;"&gt;Il-gid mix-Xoghol&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;color:black;" &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ghandna ghan kbir iehor li nharsu x-xoghol f’pajjizna u li nkattru l-mezzi ghall-holqien tal-gid ghall-poplu taghna. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ghalhekk irridu nfiehmu lill-Unjoni Ewropea li m’ghandhiex ixxekkilna b’regoli li jnaqqsu x-xoghol f’pajjizna u li ma jghinuniex biex nikbru ekonomikament. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Infiehmu wkoll lill-Unjoni Ewropea li biex aktar nahdmu ghall-pa`i, jaqbel li ma nfixklux il-kisba ta’ aktar xoghol u hidma ekonomika f’pajjizna.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Aktar ma nkunu b’sahhitna ekonomikament, aktar nistghu nahdmu ghall-paci u nghinu lil haddiehor. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Lill-poplu taghna nghidulu li biex nilhqu l-ghanijiet taghna jehtigilna nahdmu aktar, b’ghaqal izjed, b’aktar onesta’ u b’sagrificcji akbar. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Irridu nkunu lesti naghmlu kull ma hemm bzonn halli l-ewwel inwaqqfu t-tkabbir tad-dejn nazzjonali, u mbaghad neqirdu ghal kollox id-dejn li jkisser lil pajjizna. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Jekk biss naghmlu dan inkunu nitghu nserrhu rasna li lil uliedna u lil ulied uliedna ser inhallulhom wirt tajjeb u mhux djun kbar li johonquhom. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;-&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPEP2e0R1I/AAAAAAAAABE/klKBI0av78w/s1600-h/IMG_0008.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPEP2e0R1I/AAAAAAAAABE/klKBI0av78w/s320/IMG_0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126156577479608146" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;h1 style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:70;"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;Tamietna&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;color:black;" &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoBodyText"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ahna hdimna ma’ Ewropa li bhalna kienet turi li tixtieq tistinka biex ikun hawn il-pa`i fil-Mediterran.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;M'ghamilniex dan b’irbit li seta’ jxekkel kemm lilna u kemm lin-naha l-ohra.&lt;span style=""&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Ma narawx ghaliex ghandna nitbieghdu minn dik it-triq li mxejna fiha sal-lum. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Ahna nhossu li kemm ghall-Unjoni Ewropea u kemm ghalina jaqbel li nkomplu ninfurzaw dak li ghamilna sal-lum, u ma jaqbilx li nabbandunawh biex naqbdu triq ohra li forsi haddiehor ihoss li ghall-mument hija ahjar, imma li zgur fit-tul iggib hsara lil kulhadd. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Nittamaw li l-Unjoni Ewropea taqbel maghna. Izda qabel kollox nittamaw li l-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin ta’ rieda tajba lkoll jaqblu maghna li Malta jehtigilha tqum. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Lil kull min jaqbel maghna f’dawn l-ghanijiet, inhegguh jissieheb fil-front "Maltin Inqumu". &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Dom Mintoff                 &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="" lang="EN-GB"&gt;Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7901260668757816763-8640224145409650931?l=peritmintoff.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/feeds/8640224145409650931/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7901260668757816763&amp;postID=8640224145409650931&amp;isPopup=true' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/8640224145409650931'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/8640224145409650931'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post_6063.html' title='&quot;Malta Arise Front&quot; manifesto'/><author><name>Dom Mintoff</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08232291556243418128</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m7qp_EZOPG8/RyPFqGe0R8I/AAAAAAAAAB8/5fi2BxW0y5A/s72-c/IMG_0001.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7901260668757816763.post-2909442709529283821</id><published>2007-10-05T17:40:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2007-10-28T02:24:33.876+02:00</updated><title type='text'>Dom Mintoff writes to The Prime Minister of Malta 21st September 2007</title><content type='html'>The Hon. Dr. Dom Mintoff&lt;br /&gt;Emeritus Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;And Founder of the Republic of Malta&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;21st September, 2007&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Hon Dr. L. Gonzi&lt;br /&gt;Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear Prime Minister,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This message is being hurriedly jotted down in the evening of the day which your “Nationalist” party is celebrating with the customary pomp and fanfare.  This time there is a break in your Party’s tradition:  it is being done at the expense of a bankrupt Maltese Nation with no claim on Party coffers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ominously it is also interrupting a very astute Parliamentary ruse by which your party hopes to spoil the Nation’s resources, no longer by the false statement “Money is no problem” but, by tempting the “LABOUR” Opposition to carry out the plundering in tandem.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Political slimy slyness in our midst began about thirty years ago when the Hon Dr Borg Olivier was stealthily deprived of his leadership of the Nationalist Party by the “No Problem” magician, the Hon Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, who had scrounged a seat in Parliament in a bye-election.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This anti-Giorgio bold move earned the Hon Fenech Adami the leadership of the Nationalist Party and eventually the premiership.  The Hon Fenech Adami’s stunning cunning reached its climax four years ago when he managed to appoint himself President of the Republic of Malta before vacating his post as Prime Minister.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Fenech Adami’s fake Presidency reared its ugly head at the commencement of your watch on our young Nation’s destiny.  But Fenech Adami started his systematic attempt to slay our Nation’s young body politic in 1987.  It was only after a very few years after taking his oath of allegiance to our nation and assuming responsibility to steer our young republic along a highway boldly determined in a Republican Constitution with peace for our people and the rest of humanity as its primary goal.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It was not a constitution obscured by riddles or deceitful images.  Our Republican Constitution was grafted on our country’s collective soul by more than a two thirds majority of the freely elected representatives of our people.  Indeed for the first time in our recorded history, we, the people of the Maltese Islands, wrote down a Constitution that gave us total human control of our destiny.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What was even more uplifting, it was a non-partisan democratic instrument which the Hon Dr Fenech Adami had helped solemnly to fashion and to which he affixed his personal seal and that of more than 80% of the “Nationalist” Members of Parliament.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By abolishing racial and religious discrimination and giving equal status to women and men alike, our Republican Constitution burnt the rot of our old civilisation and invigorated the live roots of our Christian faith.  Christ was not king anymore: he was the Son of God and his crucifixion helped us to be the sons and daughters of the same Father who awaits us all in Heaven.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In ousting his old leader in such a horrible way, Fenech Adami and his group of petty conspirators said good-bye to Borg Olivier caucus and feudal roots as well as to what was intrinsically sound in a right wing national (never nationalist) political party.  Because whenever he could have his say, in no circumstance, did Borg Olivier give his consent to British and Vatican City dominance without getting for his political party what he considered to be a minimum of power sharing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Indeed in moments of truth and in the national interest, Borg Olivier defied his erstwhile ally Herbert Ganado and his Church followers by making common cause with rebellious LABOUR against the combined forces of the British Raj led by Winston Churchill in Great Britain and Strickland House on our Islands.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Deceit was never in Borg Olivier’s tactics or style.  He always stated his political credo openly and, when the time was for him ripe (long enough to wear out his powerful opponents), he openly gave it flesh and blood.  He did it in a genteel aristocratic manner and in a spirit of tolerance which rebellious LABOUR generously reciprocated when they had the upper hand.  Never was he influenced by personal aggrandisement or filthy lucre.  He is, I believe, the only Colonial Prime Minister who ended his life in bankruptcy and without a British Knighthood.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Contrast all this with Fenech Adami’s political instinct.  The first big historical opportunity came his way when by the demise of the Soviet Union, a terrible incubus of a world dominated by two great superpowers wielding nuclear weapons of mass destruction came to an end.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Instead of spurring the Non-Aligned Countries (as LABOUR had already done by leading the Mediterranean countries at Helsinki) to forsake all efforts for a temporary cock-eyed appeasement and concentrate instead on a long-term active role for an honourable peace, Fenech Adami, with the aura of a sudden world publicity, invited the victor, George Bush’s father and Gorbachov, the self defeated communist, to holy talks on St. Paul’s Islands.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Simultaneously with this move, our clever hero gave the Maltese electorate and the world-at-large the deceitful impression that in brokering this international venue he had convinced the President of the United States of America to give up his ambition for a PAX AMERICANA driven entirely by U.S. imperialists and the C.I.A.   Father Bush, we were led to believe, was willing to learn from his errors in Iran and Iraq and was ready to let a reformed United Nations be our collective social instrument for peace in this millennium.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Hon Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta told Malta’s Parliament and the Maltese electorate that the BUSH-GORBACHOV talks were evidence of a new era in which Malta’s neutrality and non-alignment were irrelevant and Malta’s leaders need not perform more crazy acts of political brinkmanship which gave risks to deadly consequences to our peace loving population.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear Prime Minister,&lt;br /&gt;Dr. Borg Olivier predicament was worse than mine.  As one unexpectedly steps in a snake in the dark so did Borg Olivier, the unlucky Leader of the Nationalist Party towards the end of 1979.  Only a handful of his most faithful followers were aware that the old bright light had burnt out and a dim light carried by an almost unknown new comer called Fenech Adami was casting queer shadows on Malta’s Shadow Cabinet.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rumours cunningly spread around by the bureaucratic apparatus of the senior members of the new Shadow Cabinet were in part quite true and made Fenech Adami’s spin even more credible:  he had heroically filled the gap to give time to his more politically experienced colleagues to work together and decide whether he or anyone else was worthy to wear the spotless mantle of the politically extinct and physically much alive Giorgio Borg Olivier.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;At the time of this Nationalist tragedy I was at the helm of Malta’s Real Cabinet devoting most of my energies to the heavy task of consolidating LABOUR’s triumph over the British and NATO combined forces.  Our enemies were still determined to stop at nothing to save us from the suffocating embrace of a Soviet hegemony.  But the price they wanted Malta to pay for coming to our rescue – remaining for ever and ever British or American colonial slaves – was to revolting for Malta’s LABOUR to contemplate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It was therefore my duty to detect that a mastermind at political deception has stealthily crawled in our midst.  I did not.  My remorse for making that mistake is not assuaged by the fact that no one of my colleagues or political advisors drew my attention to this mortal danger.  And I have paid for this grave error by having to give constant combat to one who has sublime ascendancy over everyone on this island in the Holy Inquisition’s art of cloak and dagger deception.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Partly due to my mistake, Fenech Adami succeeded in beating the able leaders of the various new currents contending for the soul of the Nationalist party.  How he manoeuvred to do it is for them to reveal when they meet face to face the Nationalist rebels who are now publicly set to give an open battle to Fenech Adami and his foul Establishment at the earliest general election, be it even November of this year.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It took so long for the Nationalist dissidents to make a move probably because they were taken in by Fenech Adami’s deception to join Europe in a very great hurry. He ended up joining G.W.Bush.  And the “Nationalist” Prime Minister preened with deceptive pride at being the American’s political unpaid batsman.  They were also taken in when “Nationalist” Gonzi took over as Prime Minister almost four years ago and promised Malta a new deal.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dear Prime Minister,&lt;br /&gt;The promise you made to our nation was not the unholy mess in which our Islands find themselves today.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On my watch Malta had a surfeit of qualified skilled workers competing with success with the very best in the highly industrialised United Kingdom of Great Britain.  Initially they were taught and trained by the British Admiralty and War Department and by Professor Nixon (a saintly atheist who had won even the respect of the hardliner Archbishop Gonzi) at Malta’s National Public Works and Water Works.  UnforTUNAtely the most experienced of this initial bunch were compelled by Britain’s defence cuts (with Duncan Sandys, Churchill son-in-law, shouldering the greatest responsibility) to migrate to Canada, Australia, the United States of America and even the British Isles.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Through the joint efforts of LABOUR and the General Workers’ Union the economic recovery which took place almost at once after the signing of the Freedom agreement with NATO and Britain in 1972, increased the demand for skilled LABOUR in our dockyard and the hundred other industrial enterprises which LABOUR (opposed systematically in Parliament and outside it by Fenech Adami assisted by Archbishop Gonzi’s successor) set up at top speed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In this recovery the teaching and training skills took place in our ship building and ship repair yards, our Air Malta, and in the reformed and nationalised Maltese army.  In rebuilding the new infrastructure for peace we were ably supported by Red China and North Korea, the Italian army, Algeria, Libya and Yugoslavia.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My friend Bettino Craxi was also instrumental in convincing the Italian Cabinet and Parliament to compensate their imbalance of trade with Malta by a sum of LM16 million which by today’s reckoning would be the equivalent to some 320 million Euros.  All we are getting today for compensation is the rehabilitation of Church property and the resurfacing of roads which the Italian Army and pioneers in the Maltese Army had constructed.  The Italian Government is now making use of materials and equipment from the Italian mainland.  It is therefore making bigger Malta’s trade imbalance with Italy and the European Union.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The reformist Italian Government is steering bravely to wipe out Italy’s large financial deficit with the European Union.  This necessity has probably led to malpractices in road resurfacing.  It helped the construction of skyscrapers and ruined the environment.  By disposing of skyscraper sewage it causes a great damage to our natural impermeable layer.  The damage is apparently so heavy that an open dissension in your Administration at ministerial level could not be avoided.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our clever but illiterate peasants knew the best way to build their numerous stone-paved country roads (known in England and the U.S.A. as dirt roads, I believe).  They gave these roads a longitudinal inclination towards the seashores and a transverse inclination towards the openings of each family irrigation tank.  When the storm filled the irrigation tanks the openings were shut and the excess was helped by God-sent gravity to reach the sea shore.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nothing could be more economical or neater.  Our poor peasants made all their building tools (Mghazqa, pala, baqqun, etc.) themselves and, for energy, relied entirely on elbow power.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This building tradition was mechanically improved but in essence faithfully followed during all the time I was at the helm as Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister.  The British Colonial Administration were even more strict in sticking to this tradition and the Hon Dr. Giorgio Borg Olivier cherished the preservation of what was sound and effective.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Had not our “Nationalist” and “LABOUR” self proclaimed modern innovators departed from the paths of common sense Malta would today be earning double premiums from the Hon A. Gore, the Emeritus Vice President of the U.S.A. and his able group of world-renowned scientists. Premium No.1 for storing rainwater and Premium No.2 for so doing without the help of electricity or the consumption of oil and coal.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The large scale afforestation, started and implemented in the 1970’s and mid 1980’s by LABOUR on my watch as Prime Minister, would have been another feather in our Nation’s cap had not “Nationalist” and “LABOUR” innovators discontinued the operation.  The “Nationalist” vandals even cut down without replacing them many trees over twenty years of age.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No wonder then that the present Maltese Minister for the Environment, a civil engineer by profession (which he still practices alongside the time he devotes to the Ministry) clang to a word of praise from Senator Al Gore as a drowning sailor to a lifeboat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Al Gore cleverly and diplomatically praised the Maltese Government, of which Dr. Gonzi is Prime Minister and Dr. Fenech Adami is “President”, for deciding, towards the end of this year’s September, to scrap the offending Delimara power plant and replace it by a more modern plant with no emissions of carbon dioxide or other gases obnoxious to the world’s climate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So far as we have been told Al Gore did not mention Delimara or any other locality.  Gore visited Malta for about 36 hours in the early 1990’s and he spent more time with me at l-Gharix in Delimara than in meetings with all Maltese Government authorities.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The site vacant and available at Kalafrana during Gore’s visit has since then been developed as more facilities for the Freeport.  And I am sure that Gore would not want these to be ruined when better locations are now technically available.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On the contrary Al Gore, who has quietly altered the cock-eyed views on climate change of President George W Bush to a vision of real service to the U.S.A., would do likewise in the case of Malta.  He would help us to harness all our energy so that Malta may survive in the service of Global peace for the prosperity of humanity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To cut short the fratricidal ministerial dispute puzzling our clear-minded Law Courts, the Prime Minister of Malta has very recently publicly re-designated the Hon Michael Falzon Chairman of the Water Services Corporation as the person responsible for power generation and the drainage of sewage and storm waters.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My friends and I therefore suggested to Mr Falzon the Medina bank as an ideal location for both purposes.  It would also give Malta an immediate justification for extending the exploitation of the Maltese territory all the way from Delimara to the region past our shallow waters.  Whether this extension of our usable territory would also be the site for our storage of natural gas, to serve both Malta and Sicily, depends on the feasibility study by an international consortium.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mr. Falzon fell in readily with this suggestion and hoped that no immovable obstacle will stand in our way.  So do we.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Mr. Falzon’s recent activities in the public sector were not helpful to stop the crazy erection of skyscrapers in the erstwhile lovable localities of Sliema, St. Julians, St. Andrews, Msida and the inner creeks of our magnificent Grand Harbour.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Although Mr. Falzon has never been accused of having made personal profits out of these blunders he cannot avoid hostile criticism for having failed as a civil engineer to detect the tremendous harm that was done and is still being done to the impervious layer protecting our tiny islands from salinity.  Other civil engineers who also share his failure to detect must also share the hostile charges of incompetence.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The commercial enterprises alias corporations were blamed by public opinion for pocketing great profits by acquiring planning permits and selling these tall buildings during the initial stages of construction and at times even as sketches on drawing boards of the consortium.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These companies have now given birth to various consortia and openly justify today’s corrupt practices by claiming theirs to be the only way in which their companies could manage to survive and keep their employees alive above starvation level.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They blame the big muddle in Malta’s Public Administration.  They blame Malta’s Parliament for evading its duty to govern by transferring its powers to a host of incompetent and irresponsible authorities in Valletta and Brussels.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This corporate corruption of which the leaders of the “Nationalist” and “LABOUR” parties and that of Alternattiva Demokratika have been fully aware and failed to check, let alone eradicate, is now one major cause of a split in Malta’s previously compact Catholic Establishment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;While the Dominican Archbishop and the new Bishop of Gozo harp on doctrine and ceremonial niceties of fundamental Catholicism their predecessors preach publicly that there is no future for Maltese Catholicism unless it is quickly injected by large doses of social justice in the interest of Malta and global peace.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That is a National problem, Mr Prime Minister, to which you should pay immediate attention if you still wish to save the “Nationalist” soul.  Indeed this corruption problem is one which my friends and I and Dr Josie Muscat’s Centre Right political party are trying very hard to tackle.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You and your new team, Mr Prime Minister, after three and a half years in office have failed to make any visible contribution in this national anti-corruption campaign.  On the contrary on your watch the corruption has spread to the agricultural and fishing sectors.  In agriculture the only agricultural cooperative society which our farmers have set up to protect their livelihood recently shut its doors in disgust.  The meagre reality resulting from your PACKAGE DEAL with the European Commission has obliterated the millions of Euros which you and Brussels have misspent in dishonest propaganda in its favour.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the fishing industries you seem to be doing much worse.  The Cooperative Society which was nurtured by the LABOUR Governments in Marsaxlokk by bringing electricity to that village, donating trawlers, constructing ramps for these trawlers and promoting a fish market to which Maltese housewives thronged to buy fish – a luxury denied in the entire European Union is overpowered by a fishing consortium.  Under the patronage of “President” Fenech Adami and the direct connivance of Malta’s Commissioner of Police, the consortium continued to change the initial purpose of fish farming into a first class TUNA OPERATION.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Police Commissioner presumably justifies his forcible way of taking over Xrobb l-Ghagin foreshore by quoting some reason of national security.  The reason why he helped this new TUNA venture to turn the foreshore into landing facilities equipped with the most modern machinery and even a little farmhouse is known only to himself and the Minister responsible for national security.  In this small farmhouse, chickens are reared in miserable cubicles to feed the Asian fishermen who provide the know how for catching TUNA.  These brave fishermen are condemned to lead a life under foul conditions as miserable as that of the chickens.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What is even more deplorable, the TUNA is not caught in the precincts allocated internationally for Malta’s fishermen.  With the excuse of saving drowning Africans it seems that the Libyan allocation has been stealthily trespassed.  But there is no plausible justification why the TUNA was not sold to the Maltese housewives at the Marsaxlokk or Gozo fish markets.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What was also against E.U. fishing ethics was taking the TUNA on board the marauding trawler alive and keep the TUNA floating in confined cubicles all the way to unspecified Asian shores.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This fishing scandal seems to be too much for Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian competitors to acquiesce in silence.  It seems therefore that the Commissioner responsible for fishing may now be floating in hot water.  His special assignment has been purposely created with the common agreement of the Maltese Prime Minister and the E.U.’s President to clean up the erring European fishing industry.  He was meant to give Europe a new era in which Mediterranean fish will survive to feed us and our future generations.  Whatever the future holds in store, you, Mr Prime Minister, cannot claim that it will tally with the oath you took on the day you became Prime Minister.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Neither are you like our Saintly Dominican Archbishop, an innocent newcomer to Maltese politics.  You must therefore have some solid realistic ground to encourage you to have a last fling to fool the Maltese electorate in a snap general election this very autumn.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How can you possibly believe that you shall be allowed to hold supposedly democratic elections when your “Nationalist” Party have such a big advantage in the media?  You enjoy this advantage through your indebtedness to the Bank of Valletta that has supported your “Nationalist” and “LABOUR” political parties with state of the art Radio and Vision Broadcasting stations very much superior in quality and equipment to the impoverished National Public Broadcasting Services.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Under these new conditions it is not possible for any new political party to contest general elections democratically.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;These new realities are inviting a chaos out of which only George W. Bush’s America may be tempted to make a profit.  George W. Bush and his local lackeys will only be able to do so if Maltese General Elections and Local Council elections take place before the NEW U.S. America clamouring for global missionary peace have time to intervene and put this Bush corporate madness to rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unless we hear urgently from you and President Barroso the reasons why we are mistaken, we will assume that you are George W. Bush’s accomplices and shall act accordingly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yours truly,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dom Mintoff&lt;br /&gt;                                             October 3, 2007&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;P.S.&lt;br /&gt;I am sure you understand fully the reasons why it has taken my so long to finish this message. Your Commissioner of Police has held me prisoner in my own house by claiming that I am a danger to national security although it is taking him more than 3 years to prove it.  Also the speed with which you have lately bolstered your tottering Nationalist Establishment has taken my breath away.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7901260668757816763-2909442709529283821?l=peritmintoff.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/feeds/2909442709529283821/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7901260668757816763&amp;postID=2909442709529283821&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/2909442709529283821'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7901260668757816763/posts/default/2909442709529283821'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://peritmintoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/hon.html' title='Dom Mintoff writes to The Prime Minister of Malta 21st September 2007'/><author><name>Dom Mintoff</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08232291556243418128</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry></feed>
