I refer to your extended reportage on the subject of tuna exports and, specifically, to your allegations regarding the alleged friendship between Minister George Pullicino and Mr Charles Azzopardi (MaltaToday, 27th August 2008).
This Ministry has already declared that Minister Pullicino knew Mr Azzopardi for a very long time, well before he was appointed as Fisheries Minister. With regards to the fishing trip mentioned repeatedly in your reporting, it must be reiterated that each person involved paid his share of the expenses for a trip on a chartered sailing boat which lasted 48 hours. The Minister, and the Ministry have nothing to hide about this trip and we provided exhaustive replies when asked about this case.
However, curiously enough, your reportage fails to mention a number of facts, some of which published on an exclusive basis by MaltaToday, which could have given your readers a true picture of this alleged friendship. For example, in the recent case of the alleged re-flagging of boats involving Mr Azzopardi, it was this Ministry who wrote to the Malta Maritime Authority suggesting that an inquiry is initiated.
Another case worth mentioning is that after investigations by the Fisheries Department, the captain of a fishing boat which was engaged on a contract to Azzopardi’s fishing company was recently arraigned in court. Facts show that Minister Pullicino always acted in a correct way and Azzopardi was not in any way treated favourably. Furthermore, whenever it was felt necessary all actions were taken, independent of any alleged friendship of the Minister with Mr Azzopardi.
Minister George Pullicino, and the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs reserve the right to pursue any other legal actions to safeguard their integrity and reputation.
Keith Galea
Communications Officer
Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs
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