While the Nationalist media tried to give us the impression that during Xarabank, the PM committed himself to a 2008 general election, although I followed his words carefully, I do not feel that he was that categoric. Neither do most of the people I have consulted. But anyway that is his prerogative. So be it!

What is sure is that reports have been reaching me that various ministries are allegedly gearing up to focus more on constituency matters than on their core issues. I stand to be corrected.

Other reports that have reached me over the past fortnight are to the effect that everyone seems to be clearing the decks, preparing to sail out of harbour.

Nationalist senior executives turn up for meetings with ministers, expecting some hard decisions to be taken, only to get fudge and postponement of issues for someone else to resolve in a few months’ time. Arguably after the next general election.

The Nationalists were evidently in two minds how to tackle the forthcoming local elections. On one hand they tried to play it cool as if these were trivial elections with minimal impact on the national fabric, while at the same time, a number of mega issues have suddenly risen higher up on the agenda together with government events that coincidentally took place in those particularly towns and villages where local elections are due to be held.

Cases in point are the following:

• the timing of the application for Malta to adopt the euro;

• the parliamentary debate on the SmartCity deal which has been on the slow burner since May of last year;

• the decision to defy and ignore Brussels’ dismay over the hunting decision in spite of the EU’s condemnation and threat of increased penalties for the Maltese government to carry;

• the unofficial opening of Dar Malta in Brussels;

• the mini-Notte Bianca in Vittoriosa on the occasion of the embellishment of the new Vittoriosa waterfront (where local elections are being held);

• the postponement of the introduction of the controlled access to Valletta till after the local elections (which if introduced could impact negatively on all potential voters on Saturday);

• the construction of a new hall and library at Safi primary school (where local elections are being held);

• near completion by central government of a housing estate embellishment project in Mosta (where local elections are to be held);

• new government commitments on Luqa roads project (where local elections are being held).

By the time this article appears in print, I am sure that the list will have grown longer as Saturday’s local elections fast approach.

If the PN loses the next round of elections, Gonzi will have turned himself into a real “serial loser”. God only knows what excuse he will dig up this time round!

Terms of engagement

I had supported the Baker-Hamilton proposal that the US should engage Syria and Iran from the word go. Articles of mine to this effect bear me out.

With this in mind, I cannot but congratulate all the parties concerned – particularly the Bush administration – for agreeing in principle to participate in a regional meeting on Iraq, including Iran and Syria. Even though this might have been triggered by widespread criticism of the US Iraqi policy, particularly in Congress, it remains a positive change in policy. As a key player, the US simply must be willing to talk to the regional actors no matter how it perceives them as well as regardless of the warmth or lack of it of their bilateral relations.

Some Americans have argued that the US can afford to do so now because given the added pressure of the last few weeks, they are now in a position to push ahead from a position of strength.

There are others who have already been showing scepticism as to whether such a regional conference can do anything to halt the violence, since most Arab countries which would be represented at the conference are largely Sunni, but even if Iraq is being used as a ploy, the fact that the parties involved will be sitting around the same table is a plus in itself.

I am sure that if the US were to adopt a more constructive approach even on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it may help its rather weak position in terms of public opinion in the Middle East.

Particularly when many individual European states are beginning to keep their distance from the United States over Middle East policy. The last thing that the US should want would be a split within the Road Map quartet.

I sincerely hope that the Americans will be pragmatic enough to also find time for one-on-one meetings with the Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers or envoys present for the proposed meeting.

Let us not forget that only a few weeks ago there were also reports of Israeli-Syrian contacts. Possibly the Israelis could have grown such an interest as a result of the war in Lebanon last year.

Let us for once be hopeful and optimistic.

Mater Dei coffee mornings!

Last Wednesday, Parlia-

mentary Secretary Tonio Fenech while admitting that various Nationalist MPs and election candidates are organising visits for their constituents to the Mater Dei Hospital, denied categorically that coffee mornings are being held at the hospital itself.

It is not for me to confirm or deny but by some strange coincidence on the same day when Mr Fenech came out with this denial in Parliament, Gzira constituents of mine received an invitation from Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo called Keeping in Touch wherein he stated that on Tuesday 13 March, he is organising a visit to Mater Dei Hospital and a coffee morning at the hospital, after the tour!

Perhaps the Mater Dei management can enlighten us further. If it turns out that Mr Arrigo’s version is correct, it would be intriguing to find where such coffee mornings are being held. In the operating theatre or in the canteen?

The outgoing Chinese ambassador: engaging and exemplary

It was a pleasure over the past three and a half years to deal regularly with Liu Zhengxiu, Ambassador of the PR of China and his staff. During his term of office in Malta, he has worked on various levels – promoting government to government contacts, pushing forward his country’s external relations agenda and also strengthening links with other organisations, foremost of which the Opposition Malta Labour Party.

I am confident that the new ambassador who will be coming all the way from Bangladesh will be prove to be a worthy successor.

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Leo Brincat is the opposition spokesman for Foreign Affairs and IT