In view of the French request to Malta for assistance under Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty, in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola, said:”This article states that “if a member state is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other member states shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power.”
“In this dramatic moment for the people of France, the threat to democracy and the rule of law globally is indeed a reality. The people of Malta share the concerns of all those hit by the brutality in France, in Syria, in Lebanon and everywhere. The response to the events should be a response towards criminality; terrorism is a violent form of criminality. Malta, being a constitutionally neutral country, cannot in any way give any sort of military assistance is the issue is framed in terms of a military response. We call for an enhancement of inter-police force and security services cooperation between EU member states to fight crime including brutal terrorist action within the EU’s borders and internationally. Humanitarian aid is another area where Malta can help with in conflict zones.”
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Attakki teroristiċi – ġlieda kontra kriminalita’ organizzata
Fil-kuntest tat-talba Franċiża lil Malta għal assistenza taħt Artiklu 42.7 tat-Trattat tal-Unjoni Ewropea, b’risposta għall-attakki terroristiċi fuq Pariġi, iċ-Chairperson ta’ alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Dan l-artiklu jgħid li jekk membru tal-UE huwa vitttma ta’ aggressjoni armata fuq it-territorju tiegħu, l-istati membri l-oħra tal-UE għandhom l-obbligu li jgħinu u jassistu b’kull mezz fil-poter tagħhom.”
“F’dan il-mument drammatiku għall-popolazzjoni kollha Franċiża, it-theddida għad-demokrazija u ghar-rule of law globalment hija tabilħaqq realta’. Il-poplu Malti jaqsam it-tħassib ta’ dawk kollha milqutin minn din il-brutalita’ fi Franza, fis-Sirja, fil-Libanu u kullimkien. Ir-risposta ghal dawn l-avvenimenti ghandha tkun risposta lejn il-kriminalita; it-terrorizmu ghandu jitqies bhala forma ta’ kriminalita organizzata vjolenti. Billi Malta hija kostituzzjonalment pajjiż newtrali, hija ma tista’ qatt u bl-ebda mod tagħti kwalunkwe tip ta’ għajnuna militari. Imma pajjiżna għandu jahdem mal-partners tal-UE biex il-koperazzjoni li diga tezisti bejn il-forzi tal-ordni u s-servizzi tas-sigurta tisahhah biex il-hidma kontra azzjonijet brutali terroristici tkun aktar effettiva. Malta ghandha wkoll tikkopera f’ghajnuna umanitarja f’zoni ta’ kunflitt.”
