(S/NF) KUDOS AND FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS ON MALTA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 057002

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2034
TAGS: PINR MARR NATO MT
SUBJECT: (S/NF) KUDOS AND FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS ON MALTA'S
PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE STATUS AND STATUS OF FORCES
AGREEMENT POSITION. (C-RE9-00903)

REF: A. VALLETTA 000134

B. VALLETTA 000416

C. VALLETTA 000417

Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS APPRECIATE REFS REGARDING
MALTA'S RE-ENTRY INTO NATO'S PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE (PFP)
PROGRAM AND THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM POLITICAL/MILITARY
IMPLICATIONS. ANALYSTS CONTINUE TO FOLLOW INTERNAL POLITICAL
ISSUES AFFECTING MALTA'S RE-ENTRY INTO NATO PFP AND THEIR
POSSIBLE FUTURE MILITARY COOPERATION WITH NATO AND THE US.
IF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE ACQUIRED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF
BUSINESS, ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY UPDATES ON MALTA'S
STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA) LEGISLATION, INFORMATION ON
THE POLITICAL OR MILITARY IMPLICATIONS SURROUNDING A POSSIBLE
NATO SOFA OR A POSSIBLE BILATERAL SOFA WITH THE UNITED
STATES, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. MANY THANKS, AND
REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON.


A. (C) IN WHAT WAYS, IF ANY, DOES FOREIGN MINISTER BORG'S
FORMER EXPERIENCE AS JUSTICE MINISTER INFORM HIS CURRENT
VIEWS AND POSITION ON SOFA? UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD
HE ACCEPT BROAD SOFA LEGISLATION? WHAT ARE HIS VIEWS ON
MALTA'S PFP STATUS?


B. (C) WHY DOES THE PM THINK THAT THE GOM WILL BE ABLE TO
MOVE BROAD SOFA LEGISLATION QUIETLY THROUGH PARLIAMENT
WITHOUT FORMAL DEBATE? WHAT PREPARATIONS, IF ANY, HAVE THEY
MADE IN THE EVENT THAT SUCH A DEBATE IS REQUIRED? HOW MUCH
APPROVAL IS NEEDED FOR THE GOM TO ENACT THIS LEGISLATION?
WHAT INITIAL STEPS DOES THE GOM PLAN TO TAKE TO IMPLEMENT THE
LAW FOLLOWING PARLIAMENT APPROVAL?


C. (C) WHAT MEASURES, IF ANY, IS THE MALTESE LABOR PARTY
PREPARED TO TAKE TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER GOM INVOLVEMENT WITH
SOFA OR NATO?


D. (C) WHAT ARE THE VIEWS OF OFFICIALS IN THE ARMED FORCES
OF MALTA IN REGARDS TO GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN NATO OR
POSSIBLE BILATERAL EXERCISES WITH THE US?


E. (C) WHAT ARE THE VIEWS OF POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS
ON POSSIBLE MALTESE PARTICIPATION IN COUNTERPIRACY OPERATIONS
EITHER BILATERALLY WITH THE US OR MULTILATERALLY WITH THE EU
OR NATO JTF?


F. (C) GIVEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S STRONG OPPOSITION TO SOFA
IMMUNITIES, WHAT IS THEIR SENTIMENT REGARDING MALTA'S
MEMBERSHIP IN PFP OR FUTURE ENGAGEMENT WITH NATO AND/OR THE
US ON MILITARY ISSUES? UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD THE
PUBLIC'S SOFA OPPOSITION RESULT IN A BACKLASH THAT COULD
AFFECT GOVERNMENT STABILITY?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-00903 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON