80% of the ambassadors representing Malta are political appointees, claimed Shadow Minister Tonio Fenech in Parliament this evening.
Speaking for a whole one and a half hours representing the Opposition, Mr Fenech asked for information regareding the end of the Maltese ambassador to the US.
He also claimed that with the EU-Africa summit and CHOGM coming up, the Foreign Ministruy is without a protocol officer and recently lost the person who had been appointed to head the CHOGM security.
While Qatar has opened an embassy in Malta, Malta has so far not opened an embassy there.
Instability in Libya allows terrorist organisations to thrive, which is a question of national security for both Malta and the rest of Europe, said Tonio Fenech.
The position of the government with regards to Libya is well understood, as Malta has a vested interest in the nation’s stability, he continued. The international community is lost when it comes to finding a solution to the many factions and tribes who genuinely believe they have a legitimate claim to the central governing authority of Libya, said Mr Fenech.
The international community is also ignoring the worsening situation in Libya due to other international crises, he said. Realistically, it does not look like there will be a united national government in Libya anytime soon, he added.
He called for the setting up of a working group in order to address the worsening situation in Libya. He also called on Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella to take a more active role in safeguarding Malta’s national security.
Migration
Mr Fenech went on to discuss migration, calling for the EU to enforce the burden-sharing and resettlement commitments.
As a member of the Opposition, Mr Fenech agreed with the government’s stance against ‘push-backs’ and xenophobia.
The issue is not just about relocation; there is a need to seriously consider long-term solutions, specifically by supporting certain countries’ development and economy, so that its citizens do not feel the need to seek refuge in Europe, said Mr Fenech.
EU Neighbourhood policy – ‘more for more,’ provides for aid being given to countries that show a serious commitment to invest in reforms, he continued.
This initiative sounds positive, however it has its drawbacks, he added. The cultures in certain countries believe that democracy is a European tool to eradicate Islam and introduce Christianity, said Mr Fenech. He also said democratic institutions take hundreds of years to be fully functional, therefore pushing democracy using a ‘carrot and stick’ initiative just does not work. Many countries do not want to engage with Europe, he added.
Foreign Representation
Mr Fenech slammed the government for providing a financial package to Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife who is receiving a similar pay grade as that of an ambassador.
Mrs Sai Mizzi is receiving some €13,000 a month, and has said that she is simply a ‘sales girl’ for Malta, added Mr Fenech. He questioned the need for her role, as well as the need for such a high pay-grade.
He called for apolitical dealings with regard to foreign representation.