(SBU) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON MALTA

S E C R E T STATE 008689 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2035 TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL MT SUBJECT: (SBU) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON MALTA LEADERSHIP (C-RE9-02578) Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS ¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN ANY AVAILABLE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON AND VIEWS OF MALTA'S LEADERS. PARTICULARLY OF INTEREST ARE ANY ALLIANCES MADE BY THE LEADERS, THEIR VIEWS ON A POSSIBLE STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA),AND THE EU'S RESPONSE TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION POST CAN PROVIDE, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. ¶A. (C/NF) PLEASE PROVIDE ANY AVAILABLE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON PRESIDENT GEORGE ABELA, PRIME MINISTER LAWRENCE GONZI, LABOR PARTY LEADER JOSEPH MUSCAT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TONIO BORG, MEMBER DESIGNATE TO THE EU JOHN DALLI, AND PM GONZI'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT EDGAR CURMI. ¶B. (C/NF) WHO ARE THE ABOVE INDIVIDUALS CLOSE TO PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY? WHAT IMPORTANT ALLIANCES, BUSINESS OR POLITICAL, SHOULD ANALYSTS BE AWARE OF INVOLVING THESE INDIVIDUALS? ¶C. (C/NF) WHICH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, IF ANY, ARE LINKED TO INSTANCES OF GOVERNMENT OR BUSINESS-RELATED CORRUPTION? ¶D. (C/NF) ARE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS OUTSPOKEN FOR OR AGAINST THE SOFA, PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, OR THE PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE? IF SO, HOW DOES IT MANIFEST AND ARE THERE ANY DELIVERABLE THREATS WHICH MAY HARM US INTERESTS ON THESE TOPICS? ¶E. (C/NF) WHO ARE THE EARLY CONTENDERS FOR MALTA'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT? ¶F. (C/NF) WHAT ARE MALTESE LEADERS' PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VIEWS ON THE EU AND ITS RESPONSE TO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ISSUE? ¶G. (C/NF) WHAT IS MALTA'S POLITICAL POSITION ON EU SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-02578 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON