Tonio Borg: "On the matter of Libya, Malta's position is that it sides with life."
Tonio Borg sides with life by consorting with the 'envoy of death', Musa Kusa
Foreign minister Tonio Borg, then minister of the interior, made a fool of himself a few years ago by giving Paul Vincenti and his Gift of Life movement the time of day, championing their cause of having a permanent ban on abortion entrenched in the Constitution of Malta.
He went so far as to abuse of his influence as minister of the interior, writing to every NGO and association in Malta, suggesting that they back the entrenchment of the ban.
Now here he is, once more talking like an Opus Dei activist instead of foreign minister:
The Times, today
IN LIBYA, MALTA IS SIDING WITH LIFE – FOREIGN MINISTER
Malta cannot be neutral between life and death and in Libya’s case it is siding with life, the Foreign Minister said this morning.
Tonio Borg said Malta’s apprehension over the course of action to take in Libya was understandable because of the commercial ties and its geographic proximity.
He was speaking at the Mediterranean Diplomacy Forum organised by the Parliamentary Assembly Mediterranean and the University’s Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies.
Dr Borg defended Malta’s appeal for a ceasefire in Libya, insisting this did not mean retaining the status quo.
“It means that the killing of civilians has to stop so that discussions can take place. Even so the end of the Libyan regime remains inevitable,” he said.
He reiterated that the defection of Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa to London on Wednesday was very significant and possibly a sign that the regime was weakened.
In an obvious reference to the diplomatic wrangling over whether the rebels should be armed by the coalition and to what level air cover should be provided, Dr Borg said the UN resolution was open to interpretation.
Unlike the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, he added, in Libya the unrest did not start in the capital Tripoli but in Benghazi, where Gaddafi always faced resistance.
Dr Borg said the revolution had now degenerated into a civil war.
The minister said that whatever the outcome of the conflict, Libya will never return to the state it was before February 15, when the first wave of protests started.
The violence and protests have been going on since 15 February, and still Malta’s foreign minister finds it impossible to say that Gaddafi should go. The words stick in his throat, and it’s not because of “commercial ties and geographic proximity”.
If that were the case, then Italy – which is only 60 miles further from Libya than Malta is, or has the foreign minister forgotten that Sicily breathes down Malta’s neck? – would not be a key part of the coalition against Gaddafi. Nor would Britain, France and the United States, with their considerable commercial interests in Libya that far outstrip Malta’s bits and bobs, be bombing the hell out of Gaddafi.
Saying that Malta sides with life is something for a parish priest in his Sunday sermon, not the foreign minister speaking in public in the midst of a major crisis – a crisis which so exercises him, incidentally, that he spent a good part of yesterday, a public holiday, shopping at Tigne Point wearing pastel stripes.
A foreign minister is expected to take a decisive position. If Tonio Borg is incapable of doing so, instead of making excuses and taking his state-mandated holiday like an ordinary employee (which so reveals the mentality we’re dealing with here), he should ask to be reshuffled somewhere more in line with his fastidiousness.
The leader of the Opposition, sporting a tie in lurid stripes to rival the foreign minister’s pastels, declared two days ago that Malta shouldn’t take sides between Gaddafi and those who oppose him. Now the foreign minister says Malta should “side with life”, rather than with those who have risen up against Gaddafi.
It’s enough to make me want to start a revolution against the braying donkeys who run our lives. At least donkeys don’t wear stripes, whether lurid or pastel.
18 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
We must be experiencing the next step in the evolution of mankind; after Homo Sapiens this must be the dawn of Homo Imbecillis.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=GEXFMm1JNk4
Listen to what these two have to say on the matter.
Ok, sorry. The previous mobile youtube link does not always work on PC’s. This should work …..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEXFMm1JNk4
Twin Baby Talk (Translated)
Why are we plagued with inane politicians? Sahta ta’Alla (God’s curse)!
@Anthony Farrugia
Because the culture of ‘resignation’ does not exist here. We had good politicians like Dr. Borg Olivier and Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami who showed true leadership and statesmanship. Unfortunately we no longer hear the word ‘accountability’. It is no music for many ears. Let us also not belittle the prime ministers of old like Dr Nerik Mizzi. No I don’t mean recent old, where we were lumped with KMB and more.
“Dr Borg defended Malta’s appeal for a ceasefire in Libya, insisting this did not mean retaining the status quo”
“Even so the end of the Libyan regime remains inevitable,”
If these are not statements that translates, in no unclear terms, that gaddafi must go, I do not know what.
And what do you expect, that he tears his hair and bangs his head in his office all the time? Even Churchill slept and rested during the darkest times of the Kingdom. Dull boys and workaholics takes only bad decisions, most of the time.
[Daphne – The only statement which means Gaddafi must go is ‘Gaddafi must go.’ Clearly, English is your second language and your culture is that of the less developed parts of the southern Mediterranean, where words must always be left open to different interpretations, just in case. ‘The end of the regime remains inevitable’ is an observation of what is going to happen, not a declaration of what you wish to happen. When I tell you that Labour will win the next election, do you take it to mean that this is what I want to happen? No. Exactly.]
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MCOI-8FHCSG?OpenDocument
“The increasing arrivals in Niger, Chad and now also Malta highlight the enormous geographic spread of this migrant crisis which is far from over. More than ever, we appeal to donors to maintain stamina. We are in this for the long haul and we have to collectively ensure that the plight of those fleeing the violence in Libya is not prolonged due to a lack of funds,” states IOM Director General William Lacy Swing.
http://www.betterplace.org/projects/6271-assistance-for-injured-and-refugees-in-libya
Assistance for injured and refugees in Libya
The foregin minister has a prolife policy on abortion. Rightly so, as life is the most fundamental value and human right and everyone who cherishes human rights and freedoms should defend human life in all cicumstances. The constitution should protect and safeguard this fundamental human right.
This prolife policy must therefore apply also in the Libyan conflict. Every human life has no price and has an inestimable value.
The Libyan conflict is not about abortion.
You have said ‘defend human life’ -sometimes war is inevitable as it is the only solution.
Besides the Pope, other international leaders and politicians are calling for a ceasefire, including the rebel leaders themselves! http://www.expatica.com/de/news/german-news/-military-means–not-the-answer-in-libya-germany_139679.html
A ceasefire will only work if Gaddafi and Co leave. The rebels have asked rather cheekily for a ceasefire that allows them to resume their protests ( NICELY equal to one American quip ‘NUTS’ sent to the German forces asking for their surrender at the height of the battle of the bulge).
Those dreaming of a peaceful solution do not understand that going back to living with Gaddafi is no choice at all. The consequences would be all the more deadly for the rebels.
Tonio Borg must have doctorate in the art of waffling. Quote: ‘Malta cannot be neutral between life and death and in Libya’s case it is siding with life’. If the quote is correct then Tonio Borg should go to Misurata or Zawija and have a nice and peaceful stroll.
He should get off the high moral ground because he comes across as so out of touch.
Here’s something to capture Tonio Borg’s imagination:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110402/local/call-for-declaration-of-crucifix-as-heritage-of-humanity
The Minister must be speaking in code language. If we are siding with life, we must be siding against Gaddafi.
Tonio Borg has a poor memory when he blames Benghazi for the “revolution”. He seems to forget that protests were held in Tripoli in the first weeks of the nationwide protest. What about Zawija and Zintan, Misurata etc?
While many of Gaddafi’s military in the East turned against him, the people who dared protest in Tirpoli were murdered in the streets or kidnapped from their homes.
The majority of Gaddafi’s forces are now merceneries.
This might jog our Foreign Minister’s poor memory:
http://feb17.info/media/surfaced-videos-from-tripoli-protests-in-february/