Mintoff, Mifsud Bonnici insist on neutrality

Former prime ministers Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici have told European Parliament president Pat Cox that the government's bid to join the EU is illegal because membership would nullify the binding treaties of friendship that the island has with other countries.

The former prime ministers wrote on Wednesday on behalf of Front Maltin Inqumu:

"The Constitution of Malta states very clearly that the principle of neutrality for Malta is based on the active pursuit of peace and the adherence to a policy of non-alignment and the refusal to participate in any military alliance.

"Please note that the neutral states enlisted as members of the European Union do not have the binding provisions of the Malta Constitution, nor do their countries provide the European Union with the strategic location and historical background to safeguard peace in the Mediterranean region.

"The government of Malta, with the active support of the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, acted illegally when they pledged 'to support unconditionally and unreservedly' the European Union common foreign and security policy 'in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity'."

They were also critical that a referendum was being held before their fears over Malta's neutrality had been addressed and when "it is still possible to get binding guarantees".

Their comments were in reply to a letter by Mr Cox dated January 28, in which he assured Mr Mintoff and Mr Mifsud Bonnici of Malta's future neutral status.

Mr Cox wrote: "I can put your mind at rest by confirming that the position of the European Parliament and indeed of the European Union has never put Malta's neutrality into question. This has been made clear in the negotiations, as a declaration of neutrality will be attached to the Accession Treaty, confirming that Malta's neutrality is not affected by membership.

"This should be evident given that several member states of the European Union are indeed neutral themselves.

"I therefore do not see any legal obstacle to the accession of Malta to the EU."

However, the former prime ministers described this reply as "misleading because it attempts to give the Maltese people the impression that the government, with the concurrence of the European Union, is abiding by the entrenched neutrality provisions of the Constitution".

They conclude by saying that at this late hour there is still time to suspend the package being proposed to Malta and provide an alternative package that "takes full account" of the provisions of neutrality in the Constitution.

"Only then would a new Europe ensure that his brotherhood of nations would not develop into a super state that oppresses some of its members and other non-member nations of goodwill in the world."