Just for the record

People who approached me following the publication of my article (June 8) referred to one sentence in particular: "Few realise that it was only in the run-up to the referendum that Alternattiva formally adopted a yes position".

Purely for the record, and without comment, allow me to reproduce the following newspaper extract carried in The Sunday Times issue of November 5, 2000 , in an article titled Alternattiva Regenerating Itself:

"Alternattiva Demokratika was yesterday given the go-ahead by members to pronounce its stand over European Union membership during an extraordinary general meeting next month.

"A motion which would call on AD to take a clear stand in favour or against membership during the December meeting was unanimously approved during its annual general meeting at the Milano Due, in Gzira, yesterday.

"AD had formerly decided to announce its stand at the end of membership negotiations. But deputy chairman Stephen Cachia said when he introduced the motion yesterday that this decision was no longer sustainable as it impeded AD from speaking clearly on the issue. AD should now go a step further in the internal debate on membership he said".

In fact, Alternattiva approved a paper agreeing with EU membership on December 15, 2000: "Members of Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday voted almost unanimously to back Malta's bid to join the EU. There was only one abstention in a show of hands at a meeting at the Phoenicia Hotel called to decide on the party's stand on the EU issue" (The Times, December16, 2000).

QED.