Mintoff’s bizarre EU/Malta accord

Il-Perit has entered the Malta/EU debate with his very own gambit. Malta's maverick octogenarian ex-Prime Minister is hoping to meet Mr Romano Prodi to propose his own deal for the EU in its relations with Malta.

The attempt to deliver a personal message to Prodi is to be made during Mintoff's visit to Dublin between August 17 and 19. He has accepted to travel to Dublin to monitor the preparations for the October Nice Treaty referendum for CNI. His association with the anti-EU lobby group is not unconditional and has caused ripples within the alliance. It appears that his terms may include explicit disassociation of CNI from the MLP causing fears among members that CNI may be percieved to be anti-Alfred Sant. It is not known what other conditions Mintoff has demanded from another ex-PM. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, now heading CNI.

Mintoff retains an international reputation for exasperating tactics in negotiations. His exploit stalling the Helsinki talks remains a classic in diplomatic studies worldwide. It achieved a high level of East-West rapprochement to the extent that Kissinger and Gromyko are recorded to have joked about having him assassinated, giving Malta to Libya or offering Malta the annexation of Sicily in exchange for renewed dialogue. Prodi has never dealt with anything the likes of Dom Mintoff.

So far his views on Malta-EU relations have been couched in Mintoffspeak that has led some Nationalists to foolishly hope that he too is in favour of Malta's application for full membership. MaltaToday is informed that Mintoff has his own peculiar version.

Mintoff’s Dublin adventure may put him in direct confrontation with the Labour Party who loathe his ‘confused’ approach to diplomacy. Insistently quizzed by MaltaToday, Labour leader Alfred Sant, persisted by saying that he had no views on the matter.

It appears that Mintoff is for non-membership with a difference. He believes that the EU should offer a financial package to Malta as compensation for staying out of Europe. Malta's best known political hasbeen is likely to gain audience with active politicians in Dublin wanting to add spice to their memoirs.

Speaking to MaltaToday MLP Deputy Leader, Dr. George Vella poured cold water over the Mintoff scheme: "First it has to happen, then we have to read the statements by both sides, then one could comment. But to tell you the truth we have never spoken about such an issue, about the issue of compensation from the EU for the sake of staying out. I think this is a little bit far fetched."

CNI adherents and prospective MLP candidates Brian Decelis and and Sharon Ellul Bonici are enthusiastic about the Mintoff mission. Others at CNI worry that they're riding a tiger and that the association with Mintoff may lose the lobby group what credibility it enjoys.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici was not available for comment to MaltaToday. MLP Secretary General responded on Friday by asking us to fax questions to his secretary. No reply was received at the time of going to print. Dom Mintoff was unwilling to answer questions over the phone.

Although not forming part of a formal alliance, MaltaToday confirmed that it was Mr. Mintoff himself who asked the CNI to work out the representation formalities in Dublin. Mintoff has already made a provisional booking to Dublin via Rome. Yet nothing is wholly predictable about Il-Perit: the booking may not be confirmed.