Labour scoffs at American ‘nudging’ on Afghanistan
James Debono The Labour party has taken issue with suggestions by the American government, through its ambassador, to bring Malta on board its mission in Afghanistan.
A PL spokesperson told MaltaToday that Malta “should contribute to the rebuilding of Afghanistan, but not because of the nudging of a major military power”.
The PL was reacting to a declaration by the foreign affairs ministry that it had no difficulty “in considering non-military assistance in the future such as the training of public servants” in the wake of US ambassador Douglas Kmiec’s suggestion that Malta could give the Afghan people some tips on farming.
“Malta can contribute by teaching agriculture skills to the Afghan people or contribute through development assistance, civilian training and aspects of good governance. Malta’s contribution would be entirely non-military,” Kmiec said.
Kmiec made this declaration a day after US President Barack Obama announced an increase in the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to 100,000 by mid-2010.
But the PL is insisting that “any contribution to the rebuilding of Afghanistan should have been considered within the context of a United Nations or European Union-led initiative, rather than doing so because of the nudging, of a major military power, whichever this might be”.
The PL is also in synch with the Maltese government in excluding any military participation, but also makes it clear that any other form of participation should not form part “of a military offensive, or a military programme”.
Labour also insisted that any opinion about how the government and the Opposition view Malta’s possible participation in Afghanistan operations should have been aired in a formal debate in Parliament, “as is done in practically all EU Member State Parliaments, when matters concerning security and defence policy are decided upon.”
Labour, however, said it would not shun a Maltese contribution towards the rebuilding Afghanistan within a multilateral, UN or EU led-initiative and as part of the development aid Malta is bound to contribute in its foreign policy programme.
Despite Ambassador Kmiec’s recent overtones in the press, Malta has not yet received any formal request for assistance in the Afghan campaign.
“Once we receive an official request, Malta might consider non-military assistance,” a foreign ministry spokesperson told MaltaToday last week.
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