CNI and the Nice Treaty

I would like to refer to Steve Mallia's report "Stay out of Irish debate, Irishman tells Mifsud Bonnici" (August 16).

I have to object for another instance in which an EU lobbyist files a half-true or incorrect report of CNI's activities. This time, the report is about CNI's participation in the Nice Treaty no campaign in Ireland.

Your reporter quoted an Irish businessman's objection to CNI's interest in his country's affairs. But he failed to complain to him that his own prime minister came to Malta last year to take part in the promotional campaign in favour of EU membership.

The Campaign for National Independence has been associated with The National Platform of Ireland for a number of years. We share the same belief on neutrality and peace for Malta and for Ireland, and we are against the militarisation of the European Union, and the metamorphosis of the EU from an organisation of equal partners adopting consensus policies to one in which countries have unequal weight and policies are decided by majority voting.

The EU Nice Treaty, apart from other unacceptable aspects, reinforces inequality between member states, does away with consensus in about 30 more policy areas and increases the militarisation of the European Union. It is therefore not surprising that CNI is critical of the treaty.

CNI has accordingly welcomed the invitation made by The National Platform for a CNI representative to take part in the Irish no campaign to the treaty. We do not want to interfere in Ireland's internal affairs but we wish to extend our solidarity to those in Ireland who are, like us, struggling to preserve the policy of neutrality and to keep away from military alliances and who object to militarisation.

It is in these circumstances that I am again going to Ireland where I intend to press for the setting up of an international alliance of movements promoting the policy of neutrality and working for the adoption of such a policy by the European Union, apart from other important fundamental changes which need to be made in the EU structures and policies.

I think your reporter would have been only fair and correct had he sought to find out the true facts before criticising my going to Ireland.