Maltese troops are expected to be deployed overseas to participate in Frontex-led border control operations in the Aegean Sea.
This was announced earlier yesterday by Parliamentary Secretary Dr Tony Abela while addressing some 30 AFM bandsmen who were flying out to Brussels to participate in the Tattoo Militaire International 2007, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Rome Treaty.
Malta has been invited, like other EU member states, to participate in the Poseidon combined operation, along the Aegean’s land and sea border. The aim of this effort is to combat illegal migration.
Commenting on this invitation, Commander AFM, Brigadier Carmel Vassallo said “The EU’s External Boarder Control Agency, Frontex is in the process of finalising a series of joint operations aimed at controlling irregular migration. Malta, by means of its Armed Forces, is involved in various initiatives that are planned to take place in the Mediterranean Sea in the coming period. These operations are dependent on the solidarity and cooperation of participating member states.”
One of these operations will take place in the Aegean Sea and will be led by Greece. At the moment, the AFM is preparing for the possibility of participating in this operation. The AFM’s eventual participation will consist of a number of soldiers from First regiment’s “C” (Special Duties) Company, who will be deployed for a short period of time and will be operating in conjunction with Greek forces and forces from other participating countries.”
Although still in its earliest planning stages, Operation Poseidon will see “C” Company personnel deploy in three stages: first in May, then again in June, and finally in September, with each period overseas lasting 10 days.
The AFM Band will be with other EU member states’ military bands today at the Tattoo Militaire International 2007, which will be held at the Cinquantenaire esplanade area.
This annual Belgian international festival of military music will see brass bands from The Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Lithuania, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Greece, Malta and Cyprus taking part.
The AFM Band can trace its beginnings to around 1943 when still part of the Royal Malta Artillery under UK forces.
It now has a complement of 43 highly-qualified full-time musicians, under the baton of its Director of Music, Lieutenant John Ivan Borg. As a military band, its primary role is to fulfil a range of commitments in support of the Armed Forces of Malta on numerous ceremonial occasions.
Its wide repertoire ranges from military marches to classic and popular music.
In the last week of May, the AFM Band will also be travelling to the historic city of St Petersburg in Russia for another military tattoo, marking the city’s birthday. During this visit, the AFM Band will be holding individual seated programmes in the famous squares of this city, as well as marching along its grand avenues.
The culmination of this visit will be another international tattoo in one of the sports complexes of St Petersburg.
Later this year, the AFM Band will be holding a charity concert, together with the Nafra folkloristic group in the Verdala Presidential Palace grounds.
The concert will be held on Friday 17 August.