MALTA-EU: FRATTINI CONGRATULATES MALTA
(AGI) – Rome, Italy, March 11 – Foreign Minister Franco Frattini congratulated the government of Malta for the positive result of the referendum for Malta to join the European Union.
Frattini said in the message he sent to Malta Foreign Minister, Borg: “I consider this result to be particularly positive and encouraging also because of the referendums which will soon be held in the remaining candidate countries”.
The Prime Minister Dr Eddie Fenech Adami has just announced the date for the General Elections in Malta: the day will be 12th April, just 4 days before signing the EU accession treaty and a day after id-Duluri (feast of Our Lady of Sorrows).
Malta's joining the EU depends on the election result although the majority of valid votes in the referendum were in favour of membership.
All indications are that the majority of the votes (19000 more) are in favour of joining the EU, 53.6% YES versus 46.4% NO, unofficial sources said.
Dr Laurence Gonzi of the PN said this publically also.
Prime Minister Dr Eddie Fenech Adami is expected to give a press release at 4pm today.
Cars, carrying Maltese and EU flags, can be heard and seen in the streets now all over Malta. Links to BBC and CNN news.
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New: Videoclips – before the EU Referendum
Updated with new links.
People in Malta and Gozo have been voting for the Referendum throughout the day of 8th March 2003, as well as for the local council elections in a number of localities including Sliema. Turnout was unofficially said to be 93% – this has been confirmed by the Electoral Commission to have been 91.13% (voted for referendum). Yesterday, the referendum boxes arrived in Xarabanks (buses) at Ta' Qali.
The above photo shows the Prime Minister of Malta Dr Eddie Fenech Adami voting on Saturday morning. It has been reported that opposition leader Dr Alfred Sant visited the voting booth but abstained from voting in the referendum.
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