Albania offers use of all its facilities to the coalition
Published:
March 20, 2011 at 10:20pm
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has offered all his country’s facilities to the international military coalition against Libya, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports today.
18 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
We should ask why the prime minister has changed his mind:
“Malta will not remain idle if faced by a genocide in Libya, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this evening.
Asked if Malta was prepared to play a part if a genocide took place in Libya, Dr Gonzi said on Bondi Plus that Malta would not be idle in the face of genocide.
“We respect human dignity and fundamental human rights. We hold neutrality dear, but that does not mean being neutralised, especially if there are circumstances such as a genocide,” Dr Gonzi said..
“In such circumstances we have a role to play and I am sure the people would shoulder such responsibilities to protect people’s lives,” Dr Gonzi said.” http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110228/local/libya-we-will-not-be-idle-if-faced-by-genocide-gonzi-request-for-jet-fighters-was-made-by-libyan-pm
”Downing Street reiterated its view that it will judge Col Gaddafi on his actions, not his words. His obligations are very clearly set out by the UN Security Council Resolution. Our assessment is that he is in breach of these obligations so we will continue to enforce the resolution, a spokesman says.” – BBC World News
I suppose offering all our facilities to the coalition is not possible for Malta. As far as I know we don’t have that much of an air base and would have to give up our airport’s runway for the military planes.
For a country that relies so much on tourism, that would be a blow to our economy. In all fairness I think that is an important factor to take into consideration.
But I can’t help but feel that we should be doing so much more.
People don’t want to officially side with the coalition because they think that if Gaddafi wants to retaliate he will start with Malta first. So best to stay out of it.
The way I see it, we may not be helping the coalition but we sure aren’t stopping it in any way. So as far as Gaddafi is concerned if you’re not with him you’re against him. So he will start with us no matter how neutral we are.
In a nutshell, that ship has sailed. Let’s just show the world who we are. Besides, how likely is it that he’ll start bombing us when he’s got half his country to fight too?
All’s well, so long as we curry favour with this man
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8343250/Libyas-leader-Colonel-Muammar-Gaddafi-in-pictures.html?image=7
And this one
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8394319/Libya-Col-Gaddafi-vows-to-defeat-colonial-airstrikes.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/20/libya-benghazi-shooting-idUSLDE72J0P120110320
Heavy firing heard in central Benghazi — witness
BENGHAZI, Libya, March 20 | Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:32pm EDT
(Reuters) – Sporadic explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard in the streets of central Benghazi between around 10 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. (2000-2020 GMT), a Reuters witness reported from the city.
The Libyan government had earlier said its forces would observe an immediate ceasefire in their battle against anti-government forces from 1900 GMT.
Western powers have been bombarding Libya since Saturday in an attempt to protect civilians in rebel-held areas, especially the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, from attacks by Libyan government forces. (Reporting by Reuters staff; Writing by Kevin Liffey)
Sali Berisha? This guy’s security forces, on Jan 21st last, shot and killed three protesters at a rally against his government.
http://euobserver.com/887/31686
These people, he said, were part of coup to oust him from power. Yes, democracy.
And while Libya burns, Labour’s deputy leader is on Facebook discussing L-Ahhar Bewsa:
L-AHHAR BEWSA ta’ Gino Lombardi – Ir-rumanz li qieghed fuq fomm kulhadd! Ghadek tahseb li jekk ma taqrahx m’inti ser titlef xejn? Erga’ ahsibha!
o
Anglu Farrugia: Gino naf li dak li tikteb huwa dejjem interssanti . Keep it up dejjem siehbi.
about an hour ago • Like
I wonder whether we will still have the audacity to ask Italy, France and Britain for help with illiegal immigrants.
The begging bowl’s doing the rounds already.
We are neutral, so we will not need any help from anyone, now will we?
http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/infografica/201103articoli/64311girata.asp
Malta has been literally wiped off this map. Not only is Malta not a UK base in the Med, it does not even exist !
I guess Malta is taking ‘No-fly zone’ too literally.
Bully for them. Time to wake up and be rounded.
They’ve been in Afghanistan almost from the beginning, so what are you on about?
You don’t say, Baxxter! Here, have a liquorice pipe.
The way you go on, Kev, is to have us believe that the solution to the world’s ills is for everyone to move to the Brussels suburbs.
Don’t you have children of your own, Kevin?