Rome-based Israeli ambassadors accredited to Malta have been among the cream of the crop of the Israeli Foreign Service. The new ambassador Gideon Meir is no exception. Last week I had occasion to meet him over drinks at party headquarters (CNL), during a Foreign and European Affairs Committee meeting as well as during a one on one meeting at our party headquarters.

As I had occasion to comment in a media statement, while a Labour government will be committed to working towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian State and in favour of closer relations with the Arab world, we intend to strengthen bilateral relations with Israel not only on the diplomatic level but also economically, commercially and culturally.

Although I might be wrong, I have the impression that not enough is being done on this front by the Maltese government.

Not only has the proposed embassy not been opened in Israel (or if we come to that in Ramallah too, possibly due to the tense situation) but Malta’s accredited ambassador to Israel has hardly been touching base at all with the Israeli authorities. Why I do not know, and although I have my own theories on the subject, I would rather not speculate at this stage.

Ambassador Gideon Meir spent considerable time as deputy director general for Media and Public Affairs at the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry even during the gruelling Lebanese war of last summer.

He is considered in Israel to be the country’s highest-ranking media authority and a long-time diplomat who has served around the globe.

This can be easily detected when discussing the Middle East with him frankly and openly.

Ambassador Meir has been a frequent commentator for many internationally renowned media outlets. He has been a frequent guest on CNN, BBC and Sky News and was also for some time deputy head of mission in London.

The MLP looks forward to working closely with Ambassador Meir and his staff both in the near future as well as hopefully under a Labour government in the coming months.

Apart from strengthening our political dialogue there is so much to do by way of economic cooperation: from ICT to tourism, from agriculture to solar energy as well as from R & D to university link-ups and last but not least hi-tech industries. Which would be very welcome indeed to help us strengthen our manufacturing base.

Working holidays in

New Zealand

Last week when discussing bilateral cooperation with the New Zealand High Commissioner I came to learn about a scheme called working holidays in New Zealand. Basically, it is a reciprocal agreement which they have with some 20 countries, allowing people aged 18 to 30 years to work temporarily while on holiday in New Zealand.

I know that New Zealand is not exactly round the corner, but with the reduced air fares which many established international airlines are currently offering, citizens of Malta could be interested in such a scheme which would allow them to stay and work in New Zealand for up to a year.

As the Immigration New Zealand Department points out, you can have several jobs with different employers, working up to three months for each employer. You can also do a single course of study up to three months long within your year.

To be eligible you must not have had a visa or permit under a New Zealand Working Holiday Scheme before and you can’t take children with you!

I am quite sure that if adequately promoted this scheme could be of attraction to various Maltese youths who might have already had their fill of quick hops and extended visits to various European capitals and destinations.

Although I have never visited the country we seem to have an affinity with New Zealanders, possibly due to our eagerness to be outward looking in our perspective in spite of our relative insularity and smallness of population size.

We both participate actively in international fora without obviously posing any threat to neighbouring countries in the region.

From the meetings I had with the NZ Prime Minister, she has a soft spot for Malta and still touches base with a number of Maltese friends whom she knows from her Labour youth movement days more than a couple of years back. Such as Joe Bartolo (Is-Sloopy). In spite of her high-ranking role she is a very frank and down to earth person to meet and talk to. No frills or formalities while calling a spade a spade. Without fear or hesitation.

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Leo Brincat is the opposition spokesman for Foreign Affairs and IT