QUOTES FROM A BATTLE
TONIO FENECH (Bondiplus, last Monday): “When regime change takes place in an undemocratic way, the incomers tend not to recognise the debtas or agreements of those they have replaced.”
TONIO FENECH (Bondiplus, last Monday): “Not all countries have published a list of the assets which they have frozen. The UN sanctions do not require publication.”
IBRAHIM AL MAYET, Libyan dissident in England (BBC, last Friday): “The French, the British and the Lebanese are our friends. We need more help; military intelligence, arms, humanitarian support and aid. The central bank is being raided by the regime. They know that they are coming to the end, and so they will attack the country and destroy its infrastructure.”
RONNIE GAUCI (timesofmalta.com’s comments-board, last Thursday): “Gaddafi is a wise person. That’s why he’s still there after all these years. He’ll wait a couple of years till things calm down, then he’ll finish the job quietly.”
NICOLAS SARKOZY (Paris, last Friday): “We are totally determined. Each one of us knows our responsibilities and each one of us now has to face up to those responsibilities. We are all very conscious of our role in this historic moment.”
HILLARY CLINTON (CNN, last Friday): “America has unique capabilities and we will bring them to bear to help our allies in safeguarding the Libyan peopl. I hope that there will be more defections, that the people around Muammar Gaddafi will put their love for Libya above their loyalty to the regime.”
DAVID CAMERON (BBC, last Friday): “Colonel Gaddafi has lied and the time for action has come. It needs to be urgent and we have to enforce the will of the United Nations. We cannot allow a man to slaughter his own people.”
GADDAFI REGIME SPOKESMAN (Libyan state television, last Friday): “You have no right ever to interfere in our internal affairs. Who gave you the right? You will regret it if you interfere in our internal affairs.”
DAVID CAMERON (BBC, last Saturday): “There will always be unforeseen consequences of taking action, but inaction is not an option….What we are doing is necessary, it is legal, and it is right…Now our thoughts should be with those who are putting their lives at risk to save the lives of others.”
SEIF AL ISLAM GADDAFI (talking to Christiane Amanpour, ABC, last Sunday): “We went to Benghazi to liberate it from gangsters. You Americans are supporting the terrorists. The people in Benghazi are living a nightmare, a nightmare. They have no freedom under those people.”
CARM MIFSUD BONNICI (Bondiplus, last Monday, asked whether he agrees with the No-Fly Zone): “U zgur li kienet idea tajba.”
GEORGE VELLA (Bondiplus, last Monday, asked the same question): “Nahseb kien bzonnjuz, imma ma nahsibx li se jkun bizejjed.”
KARMENU MIFSUD BONNICI (press conference, last Monday): “If Muammar Gaddafi is accused before the International Criminal Court, then so should be Blair, Bush, Obama, Sharon and Sarkozy.”
KARMENU MIFSUD BONNICI (press conference, last Monday): “Gaddafi has nothing to do with the Gaddafi Human Rights Award. It’s just his name on it. Libya is not Gaddafi.”
KARMENU MIFSUD BONNICI (replying to a question about Gaddafi’s forces shooting on civilians): “Dak int qed tghidu.”
KARMENU MIFSUD BONNICI (press conference, last Monday): “There are democratic dictators and undemocratic dictators. Gaddafi huwa dittatur arci-demokratiku. He seized control of Libya after getting the people’s consent. If the people really want to rid themselves of Gaddafi, then they can do so through the people’s committees, which decide everything.”
CARM MIFSUD BONNICI (Bondiplus, last Monday, replying to a question about whether he thinks Gaddafi should go): “Yes, I think Gaddafi should go. He will have to find what he sees as an honourable way out, even if it means killing himself, or killing others, or just leaving.”
GEORGE VELLA (replying to the same question): “I won’t go into it. I’m not saying that to wash my hands, but because Libya is a sovereign state. I’m not going to say whether a leader should go or not.” Lou Bondi asks him how it is possible not to have an opinion on the matter, and he responds: “This is not my competence” – Dr Vella is shadow minister for foreign affairs – “The Libyan population has to decide. I condemn his actions.”
ADVERT FOR THE GOLD MARKET ON TVM: “Ahtaf dil-opportunita biex tbieh id-deheb tieghek. Bis-sitwazzjoni fil-Libja l-prezz tad-deheb huwa l-izjed gholi li qatt kien.”
GEORGE VELLA (Bondiplus, last Monday, answering a question about whether the government of Malta should respond to overtures made by the National Council in Benghazi: “L-edukazzjoni titlob li ghandu jirrispondi.”
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Unfortunately many of our politicans (from both camps) are very shallow – surely and unfortunately a reflection of the level of knowledge and intelligence of our greater electorate. Regretfully our society mirrors its standards by the people it elects to parliament.
These are the moments where statements from our politicians make Malta even smaller than it really is.
ADVERT FOR THE GOLD MARKET ON TVM: “Ahtaf dil-opportunita biex tbieh id-deheb tieghek. Bis-sitwazzjoni fil-Libja l-prezz tad-deheb huwa l-izjed gholi li qatt kien.”
Unbelievable!
I loved the ‘sale of gold’ advert.
” Regretfully our society mirrors its standards by the people it elects to parliament.”
It is very true but when there is a real leader who is not afraid to take bold decisions and is able to inspire others, you can forge ahead and do what is right.
Eddie Fenech Adami comes to mind. We all remember that there were times when we seriously questioned decisions which were not backed by public support. More often than not, time proved him right.
Don’t bomb Tripoli, nuke Liverpool.
I have always maintained that our politicians are brilliant as long as they keep their mouths zipped up.
How can they talk of democratic dictators and democratic regime change ?
The mind boggles.
vonmises,
Din qisa bhal ta’ Joseph biex niehdu l-okkazzjoni u niehdu it-turisti tat-Tunezini.
X’ mentalita. DAWN GHANDHOM IL-VOT.
During the Libyan crisis I wrote several comments on this, my favourite blog. Here are some remarks:
1. The conflict will not be resolved in a matter of days.
2. Gaddafi is in for the longer haul.
3. Malta has nothing to offer in way of military bases and assets.
4. US is reluctant to get involved.
5. France ‘prematurely’ recognizes the Benghazi council.
6. Arab League changes position twice – reluctantly joins coalition.
7. NATO stays clear of problem but very reluctantly assumes responsibility in view of US retreat.
8. The rebels were wrong to ‘refuse foreign troops on Libyan soil’ when it was obvious from day one they could not possibly handle the situation themselves.
9. The only way of getting rid of Gaddafi is for one of his own to muster the courage and blast him off.
10. In the face of all the mess, Malta should just continue to offer humanitarian support.
Those remarks were made in the span of the last three weeks. As time wears on, it is quite evident that Malta’s stance in this issue is correct, prudent and actually, the only sane one to take.
Attributing the government’s decisions based solely on matters of safeguarding trade relations with Libya(s) emerging from this revolt is plainly ludicrous and misguided. If Malta is to lose trade, may I point out that it already has done so and those companies who put all their eggs in one basket, did so at their own risk and after years of gain, its their turn to go through some tough times ahead – or take this opportunity to develop other markets.
It seems that the Maltese government took the right approach that saying less is better when clearly it cannot assume the role of a bully.
Better not start a project than starting it and stopping half way through.
Robert Arrigo (the Malta Independent, today) : “I do fully agree with the prime minister’s handling of the situation, and declare myself as against having a military base here in Malta. Others can do that job, as the same countries did not lift too many fingers when we became a refuge for illegal immigrants.”
I am inclined to believe that politics attracts certain types of people. Our politicians come from an even narrower spectrum. I just cannot fathom the high voter turn-out, because these people engender apathy not enthusiasm.
While thanking you for your publicity, we wish to point out that our wording in the advert mentioned in your post, The Gold Market, we never mentioned Libya in any way… so i must say you have mis-quoted. For your kind attention, we say Dinja and not Libya…. I am sure you are of course intelligent enough to realise that the price of gold had been going up for more than 2 years…
Hope you correct this wrong quote…. or if you like, we can even send you a copy of the advert by email.
Thanks and keep it up
The Gold Market