[WATCH] ‘Constitution should include pursuit of Mediterranean disarmament’ – Fr. Montebello

Joseph Muscat calls for 'rethink' on what Europe stands for. Simon Busuttil hits out at Greek Prime Minister's 'populism and brinkmandhip' 

Mark Montebello addresses a conference. Photo: Ray Attard
Mark Montebello addresses a conference. Photo: Ray Attard
Muscat, Busuttil commemorate 40th Anniversary Helsinki security agreement • Video by Ray Attard

Philosopher Fr. Mark Montebello has called on the government to amend the Constitution to include Malta’s “endeavour to pursue a policy of disarmament in the Mediterranean”.

He was closing at a conference to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Declaration that was aimed at improving relations between Western and Eastern European countries during the midst of the Cold War. The Declaration was marked by Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff’s successful and single-handed insistence that security in Europe be intrinsically linked with security in the Mediterranean region.

However, Montebello warned that the Helsinki oaths have been deliberately and consistently contradicted by successive governments “who evidently did not feel bound to the pledges of their national administrative predecessors”.

“What we see now is the entrenched and flourishing belief that the best way to respond to violence is by violence, a Mediterranean teeming with war vessels, an unbridled, treacherous increase in the sale of arms to dictatorial regimes and poverty-stricken rebels,” he said. “We see a bourgeoning of nuclear bases along the Mediterranean shore, the dubious doctrines of goodwill being translated into brimstone and fire, a steadfast resistance to declaring sensitive areas around the Mediterranean nuclear-free zones, and a seemingly deliberate drive in democracy’s name to keep oil-rich countries in a volatile state of existence.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told the conference that the time is ripe for a “rethink” in what Europe stands for, regardless the results of ongoing make-or-break bailout negotiations with Greece.

“Whatever the outcome, the negotiations will have a huge influence on Europe’s direction for the next decade or so,” he said.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil hit out at Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for damaging country through “populism” and “brinkmanship”.

“When leaders push their countries to the brink and then pull it back at the last minute, they create a situation that produces much drama and short-term popularity but really does not work,” he said.

Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola said that Malta should play a central role in Libyan peace talks.

“As a trusted and old partner of the Libyan people, Malta can play an important part in helping to build confidence and in assisting the process without imposition,” she said, while warning that a solution must be found quickly as “death cults” like ISIS cannot be allowed to continue to enjoy space in which to operate freely.