NICK ARCHER arrived in Malta a few weeks ago as the UK’s representative in Malta. He replaces the popular Vincent Fean, who is now only a stone’s throw away in Libya. Michael Carabott caught up with Mr Archer at his offices to interview him and pick his brains on the subjects of irregular immigration, culture and investment.
Mr Archer exudes youth and confidence, yet at the same time is a very approachable and affable fellow. He greeted me warmly in his office at the British High Commission in Ta’ Xbiex at 9.30am and immediately offered me a morning pick me up.
I accepted and we did a little ice breaking, myself talking about the previous night’s football results while he tried to identify which part of Britain my accent came from.
Mr Archer said he was relatively settled after two-and-a-half weeks, but said he was still finding his feet and waiting for his luggage to catch up with him at his new home.
The Queen’s visit
Invariably, one of the first topics we touched on was the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Malta last November during the CHOGM. He said: “The Queen’s visit was, by any standards, a huge success. It was very important, the closeness of the relationship between Malta and Britain was dramatised in that visit. But that doesn’t mean that it just peaked there, we can go further,” he said.
I suggested that Malta and the UK seemed to have a very good understanding of each other, especially in the field of international relations. “Malta and UK have an unusual relationship – in that there is a historical element of the past and the tremendously important future in Europe – together,” he said.
He continued: “What is different in my appointment is that I am the first British High Commissioner appointed to serve as a diplomat in Malta as an EU member state.”
Mr Archer said that Malta and the UK continue to try to agree on international events, especially foreign affairs. “But the European agenda is as much, if not more, important. It deals with internal politics, domestic issues and so it has an intrinsic importance to our relationship,” said Mr Archer.
That ‘special’ relationship
Mr Archer has definitely done his homework before coming here. He remarked: “Someone said to me the other day that we, Malta and the UK, think on the same wavelength. So, when confronted with issues whether domestic or international, very often the instinctive response of Malta and the UK will be more or less the same.”
He continued: “Regardless of past political disagreements and maybe some political tensions, the habit of mind is a legacy which is beneficial and that is what really binds us beyond agreement on various issues. As long as we both want to sustain the closeness we have, we can sustain this relationship.”
He said that the real challenge in keeping ties alive was that the generation of Maltese and Britons who have memories of war and the period of British administration was beginning to get older. “Younger generations don’t have clear memories of administrations let alone war, what reason do they have to carry on this habit of consultation? If we want to remain close we have to find reasons for the Maltese and British to talk to each other early on, which is what both countries try to do.”
Cultural and educational mission
I asked the High Commissioner whether he had a specific mission while in Malta, and his response was simple – giving people the information they need to either study or experience the British culture.
“It seems to us that the answer, broadly speaking, is education and culture. London in particular is a very exciting place to be and our educational standards are still extremely high and therefore its still very attractive for younger people to go there to live and study. That is the message I want to get across,” he said.
Mr Archer continued: “There are various places in the world where one can get a good education and still have a good time when they are young but I think Britain covers those two side by side and the shared language of also helps tremendously.”
He said: “As you know the British Council presence here shut and relatively recently re-opened with a very clear focus on reaching people that want to go places that have an active cultural and educational programme. Culture focuses on the under 30s and it also reflects the British government’s decision to invest in young people.”
He continued: “Our role at the High Commission is to support that activity. We have a common agenda, add value to council’s product. Essentially it is not about staging events here, but about getting through to people, giving them information of what they will find at the other end, whether its in London or whether its to any other British city.”
I pointed out that there is a misconception that London is the be all and end all of Britain. “Yes,” he said, “unfortunately it is what we call the golden triangle. Foreign students tend to think Britain means Oxford, Cambridge or London. The council is trying to show that there is more on offer.”
He continued: “British universities beyond the golden triangle want to sell their products directly. There are universities that offer a broad cross section of courses that might be of particular appeal – selling directly into this market.
“But there are other things on my agenda. One is to carry on working with Malta within Europe, making sure our relationship is sustainable and the third is of a more traditional nature – that of international security,” he said.
He said: “Britain is, as you know, active in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. We have to try and create understanding of what we are doing and how we are doing it and subsequently generate support. Perhaps not on the entire agenda, but on particular issues.”
“These are issues that have consequences in Malta as well. Malta is a safe place but over past four or five years, the international environment has deteriorated drastically so I think people are interested to know what is happening and we have a job to do in talking about this,” he concluded.
Immigration
I spoke with Mr Archer about the common problem that the UK and Malta has with handling irregular immigrants – highlighting the recent news story about the Calais holding centres, as well as those in Malta.
He answered: “We did a lot of work under the British presidency, which is why we found ourselves pulling the same rope. Last summer irregular immigration was a huge issue and it arose right at the start of the British Presidency of the EU. I don’t think it was just because of British problems in the field that it was put high on the agenda.”
Mr Archer continued: “People here made very eloquent representations here. With irregular immigration you have to do many things at once. In the long term, you have to make Africa a better place to live. Mr Blair has really pushed this and Dr Gonzi has been with him throughout. It’s about economic development and freedom.
“Young men won’t leave their countries for no reason and if they can live a decent life at home they will stay at home. You can’t say it takes too long to do it, it will be a long slog, so it’s important we start now,” said Mr Archer.
He also put forward his suggestion on the need for a smooth efficient mechanism for returning refused asylum seekers. This can be addressed at a pan-European level, he said, adding that many of these people come from countries where it is simply not safe to return people.
“We are in a bit better position in policing the borders of eastern Europe and the southern Mediterranean. In fact, a new organisation has been set up in Poland called Frontex, which is still finding its feet at the moment, but which will in the medium rather than long term, help in processing immigrants,” he said.
He also said that the presence of the NATO fleet in the Mediterranean as part of Operation Active Endevour should also help. “It is a deterrent and it will prevent some of them from leaving the shores of Africa. Now there might be different ideas, but if you put police on the street to prevent mugging you will deter burglars too. So if we, collectively as Europeans, have a better idea of what is going on in the southern Mediterranean we can better tackle organised immigration and drug smuggling,” he said.
Mr Archer said that since dawn of time, Malta has been in the same strategic position. “Before it was for armies and wars but now it is a crossroads for irregular movements, but that intrinsic importance remains.”
Mr Archer also broached the suggestion of housing an immigration transit centre in Malta, saying he was not convinced. “I am not convinced of the idea of Malta becoming a transit centre for irregular immigrants for one simple reason – it will make the place very attractive to boat people because they can come here and then choose where they want to go in Europe. It will be hugely attractive for them to come here,” he said.
Investment
Mr Archer agreed that the eventual construction of SmartCity should be a magnet for British businesses. “Clearly, Malta wants to be a regional hub for IT and is becoming a knowledge based economy and that to us seems to fit right into our investment and export priorities.”
He said there were a large number of British companies who were strong in this sector and should be able to make synergies with the Maltese national determination to achieve and the desire of British companies to make money.
He admitted there were a couple of interesting contracts out there – one for a new IT system at the Mater Dei hospital and another for public utilities. “British companies are interested in those possibilities. We have the companies that could help consolidate Malta’s reputation. As for SmartCity if the offer is right, I’m sure they’ll be here.”
Happy to be here
I asked Mr Archer how he and his wife were coping and whether they felt at home in Malta and he immediately broke into a grin, which by now I had realised meant that some anecdote was coming along.
He explained: “We came here briefly last summer to have a look. This time round, my wife and I were in what is now our permanent house on the second night we were here. I asked my wife what she thought, and she said the only thing she wasn’t sure about was the curtains. So it’s good, very good.”
He said that in the nature of his job, he felt it was a privilege to come to a country where there was so much goodwill on either side. “It’s great to be able to work in that environment of mutual opportunity rather than always having to deal with damage limitation. And it’s even nicer to do it in the sunshine surrounded by such natural and man-made beauty.”
A genuinely charming fellow indeed…