The greatness of being small

"Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it!" - Winston Churchill

I found myself reflecting on this simple, yet oft-unnoticed truth when accompanying the Prime Minister to the EPP and EU summit in Greece. More so at the beginning of the EPP meeting, attended by several heads of government and influential politicians, when Hans Gert Poettering made a particular declaration addressed to Eddie Fenech Adami.

Poettering is no small fry in European politics. An established, tried and tested politician, of the same mould and political stamina as his mentor, Helmut Kohl, he has for some years been occupying the post of Parliamentary Group Leader of the European People's Party in the European Parliament. An unassuming yet dominant figure on the European political scene. His declarations are scrutinised and given much weight.

A few minutes into our EPP meeting, which is always held on the eve of an EU summit and which I attend in my capacity of international secretary of the Nationalist Party and accompanying Dr Fenech Adami, various personalities sitting at the table addressed Malta's Prime Minister and congratulated him for the referendum and election victories. It was at this moment that Poettering, while acknowledging the herculean task faced by the PN in those two campaigns, hailed Dr Fenech Adami as "a political giant".

I am reporting this fact because I feel duty bound that my fellow citizens are made aware of certain noteworthy episodes of these important meetings, especially when it concerns our prime minister and so, indirectly, since he is representing Malta, our national pride and honour. The humble nature of Dr Fenech Adami will preclude him from letting us know such positive declarations made in his regard. I am not paying any compliment at the expense of truth.

The greatness of this statesman lies precisely in flying his kite of values and vision always against the wind of adversity and nihilism, especially as blown by the opposition in the last couple of years.

Even his innate sense of reading of the signs of the times was recognised by various heads of state at the EU summit. The prime ministers of Slovakia and Luxembourg, for instance, told me how they were sincerely elated at the outcome of the Maltese referendum, both for Malta and also because it led the way for the successful outcome of the other referenda in the other EU accession countries. They felt a debt of gratitude for Dr Fenech Adami.

Graham Greene once said that there comes a time, not often, when the door opens to let the future in. This is such a time. In the long history of Malta, only a few generations were granted the role and duty of opening the door of the future for the Maltese. That door was opened by the vision and steadfastedness of one person, who since February, 1979 has relentlessy advocated Malta's place in the then EEC. We will not shrink from this duty. On the contrary, we welcome it.

Of course, Malta's membership of the EU is no panacea to our ills and problems. It is, however, a tool. A very good tool at that. But like all other tools, it has to be handled properly for its beneficial effects to be felt. EU membership, like time, is not some sort of crutches over which we lean our collective destiny. Let us practise the politics of convergence, as Aldo Moro used to say, and unleash the huge potential our nation possesses. Let all and sundry converge on questions of principle, and leave the bickering for the details and nitty gritty of membership.

At this crucial juncture of our parliamentary history, when parliament is debating the ratification of the treaty of accession, the absolute majority of the people are expecting the opposition MPs not to be any longer the politicians with the ideas of yesterday for the Malta of tomorrow, especially if they vote against the ratification. History will never forgive them. No amount of marketing will remove this stain from their curriculum vitae. Voting against the treaty will be a grievous self inflicted injury, almost akin to hara-kiri. The MLP would do well to head Dante's advice: never act in such a way as to be ostracised by one and all: being "nemici di Dio e nemici dei nemici di Dio!".

We are not merging countries, but uniting peoples. We shall face any challenge, support any friend and oppose any foe to make the Maltese people feel part of the European family and to ensure success of our EU membership.

The ratification of the Athens treaty is not the end of a process. It is only the beginning of an era, ushered in by, and thanks to, our political giant.

Dr Azzopardi is a Nationalist MP