LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government has caved in to pressure and demands from the European Union and the United States to stop the cash for passports scheme for Russian citizens.
Until Monday, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela ignored calls by the Nationalist Opposition and the civil society to suspend the scheme for Russians, refused to divulge the names of Russians who have already acquired the Maltese citizenship through the cash for passport scheme and declared that the scheme is subject to thorough and strict procedures. But in less than 24 hours, a government’ statement said that due to “recent developments” – without mentioning the Russian invasion of Ukraine – the necessary due diligence process cannot be done in an effective manner. The government’s statement said that the Community Malta Agency and the Residency Malta Agency have suspended, until further notice, the processing of both Maltàs citizenship-by-investment scheme as well as a residency through investment scheme applications coming from nationals of the Russian Federation and Belarus.
The Maltese government said that the renewal of applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis and subject to fresh due diligence process.
The Maltese government said no beneficiaries or applicants to acquire the Maltese citizenship or residence are on the EU Sanctions List.
Meanwhile the members of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) will be offering free accommodation covering the quarantine period required by law for Ukrainian asylum seekers. MHRA will also offer support to Ukrainian asylum seekers in finding jobs across the hospitality sector.
Meantime the Migrants Commission and the Archdiocese of Malta launched a humanitarian home-hosting initiative open to homeless migrants and refugees who have been forced to flee their countries like the Ukrainians.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government is challenging the European Union’s appeal to stop the selling of Maltese passports to rich Russians, and instead is insisting the the golden passaport scheme is subject to a thorough and strict procedure.

Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela is also refusing to divulge the list of Russian citizens who have purchased the Maltese citizenship through the golden passports scheme. The Nationalist opposition, the civil society and anti-money laundering experts are raising concerns about this, especially in the view that the European Union is imposing sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile the Maltese governing is offering humanitairan assistance to Ukranian nationals who are fleeing from Russiàs invasion. Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that the Maltese governement will be offereing oncology services to Ukrainians fleeing the country. “The services will be offered to Ukrainian nationals who have already started chemo or radiation therapy,” expalained Abela.

However, the Nationalist oppostion is calling the government to open the Maltese borders to Ukrainian refugees. Nationalist MEP David Casa who was addressing a political activity as part of the electoral campaign declared: “We cannot be neutral when we see people needlessly dying.” Casa added: “we must open our doors wide open for elderly people who are suffering in Ukraine as the likes of Italy, Slovakia and Romania are doing.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian nationals returned to Valletta once again protesting and calling for an end to Russiàs invasion of their home country.

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has joined other European countries in banning Russiàs aircraft from its airspace in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The airspace bans are forcing Russian aircraft to take increasingly circuitous routes to their destinations – provided these destinations haven’t been closed to them in the first place. They are also restricting travel to Russiàs Kaliningrad exclave, which lies between Lithuania and Poland.
Maltàs decision was confirmed by maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela, who said that the government was taking the action in full solidarity with Ukraine.
But the government has been resisting the introduction of another measure in line with the sanctions being imposed on Russia: the sale of golden passports to Russian citizens.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – In view of the dramatic situation in Ukraine, the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela and his government are under constant pressure to take a clear position and unequivocal stand on Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Leader of the Opposition and Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech and Independent candidate Arnold Cassola declared separately that it is completely unjustifiable that the Malta police removed and cleaned up flowers and candles from outside the Russian embassy immediately after the protest held on Friday evening. Grech said the Labour government has failed to suspend Russian applications for Maltàs golden passport scheme and described as “shameful” the order given to the police to remove protest symbols placed in front of the Russian embassy in Kappara on Friday.
Independent candidate Cassola said that the Malta police should not be the street cleaners for Valdimir Putin. Rather they should be guardians for the peoplès right to protest against a fascist despot. He asked the Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri for a full explanation. In his appeal to the Maltese Premier, Cassola added that the Maltese government should ban Russian flights from Malta airspace, vote for Russia to be excluded from SWIFT and strip all Russian oligarchs of Maltese citizenship.
Meanwhile, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi revealed that on Saturday a private jet left Moscow and after a short stop in Cyprus and Malta, went to Montenegro. On his Facebook page, Azzopardi asked Maltese PM Robert Abela to give more details about this development and asked if there were any Russians onboard being helped to evade the international sanctions.
For the third consecutive night, Ukrainians in Malta, along with other peace activists have returned to Valletta protesting Russiàs invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian community in Malta called on the Maltese government to offer “any kind of support” which could be either financial or political, and which would be very helpful for the Ukrainians.
“Excluding Ukraine from the dark red list would make it easier for Ukrainians to come over without any restrictions,” some protesters explained, in reference to Maltàs adopted system during the pandemic and which classifies countries according to Covid-19 related risks and imposes different restrictions.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) -A sizeable crowd of protesters representing several Maltese NGOs, the civil society and others mostly Ukrainians living in Malta showed up infront of the Russian Embassy in Kappara holding candles and posters calling for peace and solidarity with the Ukranian nation.
This was the second protest organised in Malta against the invasion by Russia of its neighbouring country following the protest organised in Valletta two days ago calling for Putin to stop the invasion and the bombings by the Russian forces.
In a letter addressed to the Russian Ambassador in Malta Andrey Lopukhov, the protestors asked the Russian authorities to call back their military forces and leave Ukraine.
Repubblikàs President Robert Aquilina stressed; “we condemn the ambition, greed and cruelty of those Russian rulers who think that they do not need to respect international law and the obligation for mutual respect between neighbouring peoples.” Aquilina appealed to the Russian ambassador to bring to the attention of his government and armed forces Maltàs message of good will, so that Russia chooses the road to peace.
Meanwhile, the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela who is campaigning for the next general election is under immense pressure from the Opposition and the six civil society organisations calling on his government to halt the sale of passports to rich Russians in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called on countries to stop the “dangerous phenomenon” of so-called golden passports that provide a “backdoor to European citizenship”. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela has so far avoided taking the step of stopping Russian nationals from buying Maltese citizenship, claiming the due diligence process is “robust”. But the Leader of the Nationalist Opposition Bernard Grech said Malta should take a stand on the Ukrainian crisis and stop all applications for the ‘golden passports’ by Russian citizens. He said many Russian nationals have bought Maltese passports without being properly vetted, which has tarnished Maltàs reputation “and now prime minister Robert Abela is putting Maltàs security at peril.”
Russians have been among the best clients in the Individual Investor Programme that has generated millions for Maltàs economy. Last year, the Passport Papers revealed that the Russians accounted for 37 per cent of successful applicants.
In another development, the Maltese government confirmed that Malta will be sending humanitarian assistance mainly medical supplies to the Ukrainian people. Home affairs minister Byron Camilleri confirmed process used by the Department of Civil Protection to assist foreign countries in urgent need of humanitarian aid was underway.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – On the same day the Vatican announced that Pope Francis, 84 had to cancel his travel trips for a period of time due to his acute gonalgia, the Vatican published the details of the Popès planned visit to Malta between Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April
Pope Francis will arrive in Malta on Saturday 2 April at 10am, and following the arrival ceremony at the Malta International Airport he will driven to the President’s Palace in Valletta, to meet President George Vella.
A meeting is also scheduled with the Maltese Prime Minister who will be known after the 26 March general election. Pope Francis will also be meeting with the highest authorities of the country and the diplomatic corps.
An activity for young people organised by The Malta Catholic Youth Network will organise an activity for young people in St. Georgès Square, Valletta.
On Saturday afternoon, the Pope will depart the Grand Harbour aboard a fast ferry to Gozo where he will lead a prayer meeting at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Tà Pinu. Afterwards, the Pope will return to Malta.
On Sunday morning, after a private meeting with the Jesuits at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Pope will visit St. Paul’s Grotto in St. Paul’s Basilica, Rabat.
At 10:15am the Pope will celebrate Mass in Floriana which will also include the Angelus prayers.
Before leaving Malta, Pope Francis will visit migrants at the Peace Laboratory run Father Dionysius Mintoff in Hal Far. The visit is taking place upon the Popès own request to meet migrants during his visit to Malta.
Pope Francis will then be driven to the Malta International Airport where a departure ceremony will be held before the Pontiff will fly back to Rome.
During this Apostolic visit, the Pope is expected to give two speeches and two homilies during which he will deliver his message to Catholics and to the people of Malta and Gozo.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has condemned the Russian military attacks on Ukraine. The President of Malta George Vella described the attacks as “worrying” and expressed his support for the Ukrainian government and its people. He remarked that this is a threat not only to the Ukrainian people but also to stability in Europe and the world. The President of Malta called for an immediate end to the attacks and for the withdrawal of the Russian forces from Ukraine. He stressed that Ukrainès integrity, sovereignty and independence must be respected. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela has described the scenes in Ukraine as “heartbreaking”. Abela added that the attempt to invade parts of Eastern Ukraine, and which are being reported close to Western Kiev, is something we did not wish to see. Robert Abela had to skip the electoral campaign in Malta to travel to Brussels for an urgent European Council meeting on the ongoing Ukraine crises convened by President Charles Michel.
The Maltese Prime Minister added that while Malta will continue to condemn every aggression or threat on the integrity and territorial sovereignty of Ukraine, Malta will keep supporting and showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
He said that Malta has always worked towards diplomacy to reach a political solution and to achieve peace through dialogue.
Even the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament Anglu Farrugia condemned the Russian attack while expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian parliament and its people.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government condemned the decision of the Russian Federation to formally recognise the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk territories.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the decision breached Ukrainès territorial integrity and sovereignty and is inconsistent with the Principles of the United Nations Charter, while it also breaches the Minsk Agreement and undermines the possibility of a diplomatic solution.
It said that, together with the European Union, Malta reiterated its support towards Ukrainès sovereignty and territorial integrity within recognised international borders, and also the sovereign right to choose its own foreign and security policy.
The Foreign Ministry stated that Malta is also concerned on the increase of bombs reported around the contact line, thus leading to an increase in victims and the number of ceasefire breaches registered by the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
Malta strongly reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy should prevail and followed by all sides, while the ministry added that in this critical moment, Malta is also having contacts with European partners.
Once more, Malta called for a peaceful solution to the Eastern Ukraine conflict, according to the Minsk Agreement approved by the UN Security Council resolution 2202 (2015), and invited all parties to sustain their engagements, respect international law and return to discussions within the Normandy Format and the Group of Trilateral Contact.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A delegation from the Vatican was recently in Malta for three days of meetings to discuss Popès Francis visit with the Maltese civil and church authorities. Pope Francis will be visiting Malta between 2 and 3 April.

It is being proposed that Pope Francis arrives in Malta on Saturday morning, 2nd April and not in the afternoon as planned in the 2020 programme which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the first day of the visit, the Pope will have official talks with Maltàs highest authorities in Valletta and following some rest, he will travel to Gozo in the afternoon. 32 years since the visit of Pope John Paul II, the Madonna tà Pinu National Sanctuary will once again receive the head of the Catholic Church. It is being proposed that the Pope meets the elderly, diseased and vulnerable persons at the Madonna tà Pinu sanctuary. It is also proposed that in the square outside the sanctuary, the Pope will lead a moment of prayers with Marian themes in the presence of the public.

On his second day in Malta, Pope Francis will visit St Paul’s grotto in Rabat, celebrates Sunday Mass at the Floriana Granaries; and meets migrants at ?al Far’s Peace Laboratory.

The delegation from the Popès voyages office visited the places and routes proposed in the programme. The programme will be official when it is announced by the Vatican following the Popès approval.

Pope Francis visit to Malta will coincide a week after Malta votes to elect a new parliament and a new government.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A group of 68 migrants amongst whom are several women and three children are in danger in the Maltese search and rescue area. This was confirmed by the non-governmental organisation Alarm Phone.
The NGO said that a boat, which had left from Libya, sent out a distress call. Alarm Phone informed the authorities that the boat was adrift in the Maltese search and rescue region.
Alarm Phone is urging the Maltese authorities to intervene.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews