The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the initiative of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign AffairsTonio Borg, and in collaboration with Embassies and High Commissions present in Malta, started a series of Talks on Malta’s relations with other states in October 2010.
Following an opening speech by Dr Borg, President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici delivered a speech on relations between Malta and Italy. Afterwards the Ambassador of the Republic of Italy Efisio Luigi Marras, addressed guests prior to a closing speech by Dr Borg.
Prehistory, Ancient History and Beyond
Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici started off his speech by saying that for so long in prehistory and ancient history, one could not speak of relations between two separate entities because the destinies of the Maltese Islands and those of the nearest part of Italy were one and the same. The Maltese Islands were deemed to form part of the Sicilian archipelago.
President Emeritus moves on to give a brief overview on the relations between Malta and Italy/Sicily as the common fate continued with the Phoenicians’ arrival in Malta. After the Carthaginians held sway in all the Islands of the western Mediterranean, the Romans came after a long and much written-about wars, finally overcame the Carthaginians, taking over both Sicily and Malta. Malta and Italy were both within the Byzantine party of the Roman Empire, and were both overran by the Arabs, who left indelible marks. For the next five hundred years and until the arrival of the Knights of St.John, Sicily and Malta shared the Rulers and their Viceroys and very much the same institutions. The first indication of differentiation can be seen in the Abbot Gilbert’s report to the Emperor Frederick II in 1240.
Malta benefitted economically from being considered part and parcel of the Kingdom of Sicily. In the words of Capitoli of Messina of 1460, the free entry was allowed to the cotton Malta then produced and exported. Export of grain to Malta was also freely permitted.
The first real separation arrived in 1530 when Malta’s Common Emperor Charles V saw fit to grant the fief of Malta to the Knights of St.John. During the long period of the Order’s stay on these Islands, the titular appurtenance to the Kingdom of Sicily was formally served. Malta still imported grain and other food from Sicily. Its jurisconsults and also most of its medical doctors studied in Sicily. Culturally, with Italian as our official language and as the lingua franca within the Order, Malta was very much a part of Italy. During the brief French occupation and our forefathers’ rebellion, the Sicilian connection became again vital.
Cultural Influence and the First Political and Economical Developments between Italy and Malta
After the Unification of Italy, some quarters in Britain and in Malta started to query the Italian cultural influence in relation to architecture especially. When United Italy started on a colonial policy and on a more determined assertion of its role as a European and Mediterranean power, Anglo-Italian relations lost some of their former warmth, and this was amply reflected in the Imperial Governments’ language policy in Malta.
It must be noted that the 1887 Constitution which had given the elected majority in the Council of Government a determining say in Legislation and a representation in the Executive, floundered because the Maltese elected members refused to sanction the anti-Italian Language Policy during the votes on the Budget Estimates. Constitutional development was retarded but Maltese members of the Council were prepared to stand by the right to teach Italian in our Primary Schools. Later in the 1800’s, some of the measures were revoked. One of Italy’s influential politicians, who served as Minister of Interior, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, retracted the anti-Italian language measure in Malta. Maltese politics were in fact bedevilled by the language question, because of the Imperial Government’s determination to diminish Italian cultural influence, and the firm defence of our right, as Maltese, to retain what cultural environment we would wish to opt for.
After the first Great War in 1915, Malta was allowed a new Constitution with some internal responsible self-government. Although Malta was not responsible for Foreign Affairs because it remained a ‘reserved matter’, it managed to deal directly with the Government of Italy and was successful in reaching agreement with the Italian Authorities in 1925 and 1927 for the transport through Italy of Maltese exports of potatoes proceeding to the North of Europe.
The first Maltese Government tried to find a compromise solution to the language question through granting pari passu status to the Italian and English languages. The Law specified the language of instruction in all schools, for all levels, and for all subjects. Maltese was to be the language of the initial introduction to elementary schooling, whilst the other two languages were assigned the task of being the vehicle in later stages. During the Compact Government’s period in Office (1927-1930) pari passu was ridiculed, steps were taken to undermine it, and Italian was removed completely from Primary education. The Constitution was suspended in 1933 and in 1935, the Italian Language was removed from its status as one of the official languages of Malta.
Italy as a possible invader of Malta
A European conflagration was looming and Italy was seen by the Imperial Government as a possible invader of Malta. In his June 1940 speech from Palazzo Venezia, Benito Mussolini included Malta within the lists of claims made to Great Britain and France. From June 1940 to September 1943, Italy was an enemy country; air raids from the Sicilian airports were a daily occurrence. After the war, the return of the normal relations, on a cultural and social level, was slow but sure.
Recovery of Italian Literature and Restoration, late 1940’s – 1950’s
Revival of the study of Italian Literature at the University through the good services of Giovanni Curmi was sturdy enough as to permit the revival of the publication of the old periodical ‘Malta Letteraria’, which Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici said he was asked to direct. Some years into the 1950’s, the chair of Italian Literature was re-established at the University of Malta.
With the restoration of responsible government in 1947, there followed a new and more relaxed era of Italo-Maltese relations. Italy was no longer an enemy or a competitor with Great Britain in Mediterranean politics, and there was no obstacle to the strengthening of Italo-Maltese relations.
After Independence
After Independence in 1964, very close and friendly relations were struck between Italy and Malta. Italy was one of the first to establish an Embassy and the welcoming message from the Italian Republic by the then Prime Minister, Aldo Moro, was widely appreciated. It can be affirmed that from then on until today the relationship was based on the very sound and clear lines of confluence of principles and interests, between neighbouring nations. In the early years, 1964-1971, with a Nationalist Government in Malta and a Christian Democratic led Government in Italy, relations were smooth and uneventful.
When with the advent of Mr.Domnic Mintoff’s Labour Party Government in June 1971, it was feared that the relationship might turn sour. However, in the long and difficult discussions for the renegotiation of the Defence Agreement, between Malta’s Labour Government and Health’s Conservative Government in Britain during the years 1971 to 1974, it was the intervention of Italy and especially of Aldo Moro that brought the talks to a successful compromise solution.
In the early 1970’s, Italy and Malta also signed a Protocol of Financial Assistance, renewed throughout the years.
Mintoff and Moro realised how important it was to maintain close relations. In his speech, Dr Ugo Mifud Bonnici expressed how when he formed part of a Nationalist Party delegation in 1978, which was led by Dr Edward Fenech Adami, and contained Dr Vincent Tabone and Dr Guido Demarco, to Malta’s Christian Democratic friends in Italy, he heard Aldo Moro’s reply to a mild reminder by Dr Tabone that, as friends belonging to the same ideological family. Mintoff was grateful to Moro. Relations with Italy were cultivated assiduously by the Labour Administration.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that when they were in opposition and started sounding what would be the reaction to our future application for membership of the European Union, we approached all shades of the political spectrum in Italy as in other European countries.
As Moro has imagined, after 1987 with a Maltese Government formed by a Christian Democratic Party, the relationship was even further strengthened. On the international plane, Malta’s application for membership of the European Community found great support from Italy. The very close relationship continued during the remaining years of the First Italian Republic. The good relations continued with the changes in Government in Italy and in Malta.
Cultural and Social links between Malta and Italy
The truth is that throughout the centuries the cultural and social link between Malta and Italy has always been particularly strong. The Italian language was the language of Maltese culture: all Maltese writers were and are influenced by Italian Literature.
The language of the Catholic Church in Malta was, until relatively recent times, Italian, and many sermons were delivered in that language. Until late into the 1970’s, forty years after its removal from the law courts, Italian was the official language.
The language of our university was Italian from its foundation to the beginning of the 1930’s.
Malta’s musicians have traditionally looked towards Italy for their models. Italian operatic music is popular with all classes of the Maltese population.
Malta was indeed fortunate to have had Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, a painter of the first order who left two very important paintings which have thrown their spell on all Maltese figurative art since then, and two other outstanding Italian painters, Mattia Preti and Filippo Paladini, who graced Malta’s churches and palaces with their art.
In the matter of restoration of Malta’s heritage, Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici explains how Malta has always found great and generous help from Italy.
Malta’s best architects throughout the centuries were all Italian in spirit and design. This closeness obtains not only in Art and Scientific disciplines; it is evident in many aspects of life. Events in Italy are closely followed: the politics, the culture and the sports activities, especially football. Through the Italian television stations, the Maltese public has participated in what was and is happening in Italy.
Sharing Common Values, Traditions, Interests and Prospects
With some changes of people in Government, one may detect some delay in the realisation of the true basis of the friendship between two countries, sharing common values and traditions, sharing many of the interests and prospects (both members of the European Union, both jealous of their independence, and facing common threats). Italy and Malta are indeed so close that the very nature of this intimacy may have increased the expectations of complete unanimity. Ultimately, whatever the difficulties might arise, the fundamental reasons for close friendship and cooperation, the closeness of affinity, to my mind, will always overcome any differentiate or dispute. The friendship and cooperation are fruitful and beneficial for both countries and indeed provide an element of stability in Mediterranean Affairs.
Address during the talk by H.E. Efisio Luigi Marras, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Malta
“Political cooperation is important for us”. These were the words which H.E. Efisio Luigi Marras expressed as he was grateful to the thoughts President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifud Bonnici shared about the relations between Italy and Malta that started long before the two countries became independent. The Italian Ambassador said that the representatives of Maltese families kept alive the economic, cultural and political relations between Italy and Malta. He continued by saying Italy has always been supportive of Malta, including her accession to the EU under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Edward Fenech Adami, which was a common goal for the two countries.
H.E. Efisio Luigi Marras praised Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tonio Borg and his staff as he said that the most important thing for the two countries is a mutual understanding of their reasons. Italy and Malta work together to set an example of cooperation. He concluded by saying that politics and economics are the two domains, where, in his opinion, the Italian and Maltese Governments should be concentrating their efforts.