Sant's referendum proposal 'a mere gimmick' - IVA
Dr Joanna Drake, who chairs the IVA (Yes to Europe) movement, yesterday described Dr Alfred Sant's proposal that a Labour government would hold another referendum after negotiating its 'partnership' agreement with the European Union as a guarantee that...
Dr Joanna Drake, who chairs the IVA (Yes to Europe) movement, yesterday described Dr Alfred Sant's proposal that a Labour government would hold another referendum after negotiating its 'partnership' agreement with the European Union as a guarantee that Malta would not join the EU if the MLP won the April 12 election.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Drake said the Yes movement believed that the only way to seal Malta's place in the EU was if the Maltese prime minister signed the accession treaty in Athens on April 16.
"The real option for Labourites who voted Yes in the referendum is to ensure that Malta joins the EU on May 1, 2004, and to understand that Dr Sant's proposal is a mere gimmick."
IVA general secretary David Casa said it was worrying that the threat by Dr Sant not to respect the people's verdict in favour of Malta joining the EU as shown in the referendum had continued: "For this reason the movement will be holding a mass demonstration in Hamrun on Friday evening. Our message will be loud and clear: the Maltese people have already decided to join the EU on May 1, 2004, and politicians have the duty to implement the people's verdict."
IVA official Dr Alec Lapira said it was impossible for a future Labour government to hold a referendum for the people to choose between EU membership and 'partnership' because by that time Malta would have missed its unique opportunity to join the EU on May 1 next year.
Dr Lapira said it was incredible how Dr Sant had the cheek to promise a referendum when he had spent months trying to ridicule the concept of a referendum and had rejected the outcome of the last one.
Dr Lapira urged the Maltese to take note of the strong statements made by Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Simitis - whose country holds the rotating EU presidency - and EU Commission President Romano Prodi, who both said that Malta would 'miss the bus' if EU treaty was not signed on April 16.
Dr Drake said that Dr Sant was aware that his so-called partnership agreement did not exist. She described Dr Sant's claim of negotiating an agreement with the EU as pie in the sky, especially when one took into account the fact that Dr Sant had criticised and insulted the EU officials he would need to negotiate with if elected.