I have been a diplomat who served in Tripoli both during the time of King Idris and Col. Ghaddafi, and as such I acted on the instructions of my foreign ministers (who were also prime ministers) Borg Olivier and Mintoff.

As for the neutrality clause in our Constitution, I had nothing to do with its formulation, and had my advice been sought I would never have suggested anything like it.

For the record, Gaddafi had nothing to do with its formulation in a unilateral declaration by the government of Malta which was deposited with the United Nations, and later attached to the friendship agreement with Italy.

Its inclusion in the Constitution was a condition imposed by Mintoff to give the winning party in an election the right to govern if it obtained 50 per cent plus one, or more, votes. This blackmail vitiates its legitimacy.

Neutrality is presented as a positive contribution to peace when history shows that it is not, and in fact it is often a screen for pusillanimity and self interest. In our case, Mintoff used it as a bargaining chip in his rounds for financial subvention from other countries, claiming that Malta’s neutrality can only be maintained if other governments helped it to be economically sound through their financial aid.

Many comments betray an ignorance, or an impaired idea of what the neutrality clause contains, and this has not been helped by the constantly changing interpretation that it is being given by those who defend it to make it relevant to our times.

Yes that’s right. Sorry for the mix up. There’s a couple of comments of mine directed at Dr Francis Saliba which were based on this mistaken identity, and for them I apologise.

Presumably Baxxter is referring to Dr Francis Cachia.

Wasn’t there a Dr Francis Saliba who was Maltese ambassador to somewhere, who had a TV programme called “Diplomacy in action” or something? I remember him interviewing the British High Commissioner.

Well, god damn it, Dr Saliba, you were a professional diplomat, and you should have spoken out. But I never heard a single word from you on the subject of neutrality.

That’s the trouble with your sort. You’re all smiles and acquiescence when you occupy your privileged position. Then we learn that you had a hidden gripe all along.

And you can actually articulate your thoughts and speak proper English, so your words would have had more weight. It’s not too late. A nice opinion piece to The Times would start things moving. Come on now, Dr Saliba. Don’t let me down.

[Daphne – This is Francis Saliba you’re talking to, not the diplomat Evarist Saliba, who to my knowledge has never posted a comment here.]

Instead of the ridiculous proposition of just a couple of pilots parachuting into Luqa airport please consider the realistic situation of military transports full of commandos landing at Luqa – you may recollect a similar occasion. I am not questioning the moral standards of the present AFM. I am questioning their ability to repel similar attacks inadequately armed with the military equipment that Malta could make available to them under the present “neutrality and non-alignment’ situation.

Because of our silly pretence at being neutral we are far less equipped than the rebels in Libya to repel an attack from the air or the sea. Equipping our armed forces with the the minimum necessary ground-to-air missiles, and other modern defence equipment, would cripple our economy beyond repair. Without a credible alliance we are pitiful sitting ducks.

Our Gadaffi-dictated incapacitating neutrality forced Mintoff himself to go cap in hand begging protection from some Nato countries that he had just kicked out and from unreliable neighbours to the south now embroiled in civil wars. We put on blinkers daily so as not to see the valuable but inadequate foreign Italian military personnel perennially stationed here.

When we actually needed military assistance it was against that self same Gadaffi who was the instigator of our “neutrality” and whom MIntoff then likened to “the worst of enemies”. We were so impotent that we had to eat humble pie and suggest to Saipem to beg themselves for protection from the maligned American Sixth fleet, an assistance that was unthinkable in the prevailing MLP anti-American stance. The lives of the crew of our totally inadequate coastal vessel had to be sheltered by the hostile Libyan submarine who took pity on our crew incapacitated by the rough sea.

The acme of our ridicule and our humiliation was reached by our foreign minister of that time when he posed with a Royal Navy salor’s cap emblazoned HMS Brazen.

Need I go on? During the last war an honourable Malta garrison acting inside an invaluable alliance distinguished itself by a heroic defense because it was equipped with the best military hardware then available. In today’s world we need similar alliances more than ever before, not only in our own selfish interest, but also to ocupy a merited honourable place among the world’s democracies.

@Giov – In the case you mention, it would be self defence, so Malta can call up outside help without violating the Constitution