KMB wants EU to change foreign and security policy

By Ray Abdilla
Former Premier and founder of the CNI, the Campaign for National Independence, Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici insisted with other representatives from Ireland that the European Union must change its Common Foreign and Security Policy for the sake of peace.

Contacted by MaltaToday, Dr Mifsud Bonnici, said that he was one of three main speakers in Dublin last Sunday in a meeting that was held in favour of a no vote in the referendum on the Nice Treaty. The referendum is likely to be held next October.

This is the second time that the Irish will vote in a referendum on the issue. The first vote was a victory for the Nos. Another Irish rejection of the treaty might make it more difficult for Malta to become a full member of the EU by 2004.

This is Dr Misfud Bonnici’s third visit to Ireland: he was invited there earlier this year and in Spring last year. The former Maltese Prime Minister joined Nay campaigners, Professor Anthony Coughlan and Mr Jack Bennett, to speak about the repercussions both Ireland and Malta will face as member countries of a militarist EU.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said in the meeting that both countries, Malta and Ireland value their neutrality. He said that the Irish must follow the advice of numerous people and organisations in the National Platform against the Treaty.

The former Prime Minister told the Irish that if in the past 50 years there was peace in Europe without the necessity of an EU army, one could not understand what the need for an army was now.

He said that this is a start of political aggression by the EU and it also goes far as a case of intimidation. He showed concern about the fact that the EU member countries are in possession of arms capable of hitting countries in a 4,000 miles radius, i.e. countries as far away as the Middle East.

"When one considers the fact that at present there is a division between the West and Moslem countries, such intimidation is making the world a less safe place,” Dr Mifsud Bonnici said. He stressed to the Irish that a No vote could change all this.