AD pushes for formal EU-Mediterranean treaty

Alternattiva Demokratika has called on the member countries of 5plus5 summit to establish a formal treaty of cooperation between the European Union and the new Arab democracies.

The Green party augured that the summit also gave due importance to issues such as human rights and the social and ecological dimensions of Euro-Mediterranean politics.

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio, who was also present for the official opening of the summit at Castille, said that the summit being held in Malta was a milestone.

Briguglio said that the Green party fully supported the democratisation of the Arab.  

"We should work so that the EU offers these countries a strong economic, social, ecologic and political perspective through a formal treaty of cooperation in the Mediterranean between the EU and the new Arab democracies," Briguglio said.

He said, that the Arab Spring was a testimonial to how history can be rewritten through popular uprisings against authoritarian rule.

"Yet this does not mean that pertinent issues revolving around human rights, social justice and ecology should now be ignored. For example, Libya should ratify the Geneva convention so as to do way with atrocities concerning immigrants," he said.

"Women and various minorities in countries like Libya, Egypt and Tunisia should have their rights guaranteed. Issues concerning sustainable use of water and the risks of nuclear energy should be given the importance they deserve."

Arnold Cassola, AD's spokesman on International Affairs reiterated that the uprisings had given new hope to the oppressed people of the region.  

"However, it has also exposed the greed and hypocrisy of certain sectors of the developed world, which were more intent on making profit through the sale of arms to the brutal dictators rather than thinking of the well-being of the populations involved," Cassola said.

He said that Malta had not been "immune to this widespread greed and egoism", adding that over €87 million of blood money were invested by Gaddafi, his family and entourage in our country.  

"We augur that political leaders learn from the mistakes of the past, and do not repeat them in the future: double speak, double standards, the lust for money and the lust for power simply do not pay," Cassola said.  

"Sharing resources fairly, providing equal opportunities and investing for the benefit of local populations is a win-win situation for all."