Foreign Minister George Vella said that he is uncomfortable with high-rise buildings, saying that we are experiencing "over-development".

Interviewed by Pierre Portelli, The Malta Independent's business and content director, in this week's edition of INDEPTH, Dr Vella said he is not against development but he would like to see a better balance between urbanism and the safeguarding of the environment.

Dr Vella, who was environment minister in the Alfred Sant government between 1996 and 1998, said that it hurts him even to look at a place like Tigne. "I look away," he said.

It's not right that we build 14, 15 storeys on every square metre of land we have, he said.

He appealed for more moderation because it is better to have less development and the safeguarding of natural places. It would be good for us from a health point of view and it would also be good for tourists.

In the interview, Dr Vella also spoke about the US election result, Malta's relations with Libya and the evolution of the Labour Party from the time when it was led by Dom Mintoff to the present days, with Joseph Muscat as leader.