Malta’s application to join the Partnership for Peace was last night unanimously approved by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council meeting in Bucharest.
Approval came after the council was addressed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who said the government of Malta was not using the PfP Programme as a stepping stone to becoming a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Dr Gonzi said that the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council meeting marked the start of a new chapter in Malta’s relationship with NATO and the European Union.
He thanked all those present for their support in reactivating Malta’s membership of the Partnership for Peace initiative.
“In taking this step, Malta signifies its continued adherence to the principles and values enunciated in the Partnership for Peace framework document, and accepts the concept of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council as laid out in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council basic document,” said Dr Gonzi.
He said the security policy environment in and around Europe has been characterised by extensive processes of change. “Old threats have been replaced by new ones. New relationships are now in place. Opportunities for cooperation have increased,” he said.
He added that as far as NATO is concerned, the years after the Cold War resulted in far reaching changes. He said a central element of this process were the extensive cooperation programmes, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace.
“Within the framework of its partnership relations, Malta aims to encourage regular political dialogue on security policy issues important to Malta,” said Dr Gonzi.
He added that Malta will also improve its readiness to participate in crisis management operations. “Cooperation to develop military inter-operability, force planning and the necessary capabilities will be sought, and Malta will participate more extensively in training exercises. We would like to work hard with our partners’ assistance on modernising our armed forces,” he said.
Malta’s participation in the Partnership for Peace initiative is fully consistent with the Maltese Constitutional provisions on neutrality, said Dr Gonzi. “For some countries the partnership with NATO is a preparation for membership of this organisation, while for others – such as Malta – it constitutes the prime instrument for developing the military and civil inter-operability that countries must have, in order to be able to contribute effectively to UN sanctioned international crisis management and peace support operations,” he said, dispelling any misconceptions about Malta seeking to become a member of NATO.
“Malta views its membership in Partnership for Peace as part of its endeavours to promote a pan-European security order, and also as a way to enhance and develop the functioning of European Union-NATO cooperation,” concluded Dr Gonzi.