Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1073679
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 JANUARY 2019 3 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "The franchise agreement stipulates a contractual obliga- tion for these stations to provide a service 24/7. We even offered our support if they need it. If that was interpreted as a threat, then I don't know." Chircop explained that threat- ening one's own clients did not make sense in a business rela- tionship and insisted that claims that the petrol station owners who are supplied by Enemed fuel were threatened were non- sense. "We do not want to be dragged into this. All we're after is to continue providing an excellent service," Chircop said, adding that GRTU was implicating the fuel supplier for an ulterior mo- tive. "The company doesn't see why consumers should be penalised in a dispute that Enemed has nothing to do with," he said. Earlier yesterday, GRTU and petrol station owners turned down a government offer to meet on Saturday and vowed to continue their strike, closing petrol stations at 6pm and not offering automated services af- ter that time. MaltaToday has learned that petrol stations are unwilling to wait till Saturday for a meeting which they hope will finally re- solve a dispute between them and the government. As of yesterday fuel stations were instructed by GRTU to close at 6pm every day, with motorists unable to purchase fuel after this time. Operators will also withhold fuel station license payments due to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services. The Chamber of SMEs said on Monday evening that it, togeth- er with fuel station operators, had decided to opt for limited industrial action since talks with the government had stalled. The decision was taken during a meeting between the GRTU and operators on Monday. GRTU said the measures would remain in place until an agreement is reached with the government. In comments to the Labour Party's media on Monday, En- ergy minister Joe Mizzi insisted yesterday that the government was prepared to sit down with fuel station operators and con- tinue discussing a way forward. He insisted however that he would take no decision that negatively impacted consumers. "GRTU's demands would mean an increase in the price of fuel," Mizzi said. "I offered to discuss with them, but not to the detriment of consumers, because what is being asked for would be to the detriment of consumers, so one needs to pro- ceed with caution." Mizzi stressed that the offer made by the government placed no burden on Maltese and Goz- itan families. Earlier this month, the cham- ber threatened industrial ac- tion by petrol stations owing to a lack of progress in providing some €21 million in govern- ment funds for petrol pump up- grades. A GRTU study conducted in 2014 had found that 80 out of 90 petrol stations in Malta and Gozo need to change all their equipment, from the petrol pumps, to piping and the under- ground storage tanks in order to bring them in line with an EU directive. The EU directive says that changes are to be made by 2020, and GRTU's study back in 2014 found that a total of €21 million will cover the costs for this to happen. In a statement last week, the government said that in 2011 the Resources Authority had allowed an increase in profits from the sale of fuel as long as the station owners covered in- vestments in their stations. It said it could not accept the GRTU's demand as the price of fuel would rise for consumers beyond the international price. It said that instead, it had pro- posed an increase in profitabil- ity that would not be a burden on motorists. Operators dismiss government offer for Saturday meeting Automated services will not be available at petrol stations after 6pm YANNICK PACE MALTA'S waterpolo national team coach Karl Izzo's nomi- nation as non-resident ambas- sador to Montenegro has been approved by the parliamentary committee tasked with scruti- nising such appointments. Izzo appeared before the committee having replied to MPs' questions in writing be- fore the session. His nomina- tion was approved, with gov- ernment MPs voting in favour and the Opposition voting against. He did not take kindly to suggestions that he was be- ing appointed because of his friendship with the Prime Minister, dubbing criticism as 'nonsense'. "I have always proven my- self... what's wrong with being the friend of the Prime Min- ister? He is my friend. I don't need any favours from anyone. I built my business from the ground up, everyone knows the type of person I am... I am an honest man." During the session PN MPs Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Her- mann Schiavone both ques- tioned Izzo's lack of experience in diplomacy. Mifsud Bonnici asked whether Izzo had ever been involved in any form type of diplomatic talks or work for the foreign ministry. Izzo said he didn't, but ex- plained that he was involved in talks with Russia and Croatia on a memorandum of under- standing, through which they would offer their assistance to Malta in developing a longterm sports strategy. "It will help us finalise the ten-year plan we are formulating for us to be able to achieve better results than we currently are," Izzo said. Labour MP Robert Abela was chairing the committee after Edward Zammit Lewis, a close friend and associate of Izzo's, recused himself due to a con- flict of interest, being a compa- ny lawyer for the Izzo family's Dizz Group, apart from their close friendship with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Abela pointed out that Mon- tenegro's sports minister also had a background in water- polo. Izzo replied that he knew the minister and had a good working relationship with him. Schiavone said that while nobody was doubting Izzo's competence in sports, the role of ambassador was a different matter altogether. He asked how his experience could help him in his role as ambassador. "I wasn't an ambassador but I am Malta's primary ambas- sador for sports in Malta," he said, adding that he frequently represents Malta at the EU on sports matters. Furthermore, he said Montenegro was a country he knew well and one where he had spent a consider- able amount of time studying. "It's an interesting country that I think we can do a lot in." Izzo also pointed out that he has good contacts in Montene- gro and has been to the coun- try a number of times. He said he was convinced he could do a lot of good work for Malta in this role. In their deliberations, both Opposition MPs continued to insist that Izzo's background was not suitable for the role. "It would be understandable if this was for a sports ambassa- dor role," Mifsud Bonnici said. He added that the role was an important one especially one considering that Montenegro was set to join the EU and that Malta had offered its support. "We are not blaming him but whoever nominated him." "This man should not have been nominated," Mifsud Bon- nici insisted. Labour MP Glenn Beding- field responded by saying that he understood the Opposi- tion's position but stressed that public declarations against the nomination had been made before yesterday's session. He said there had been qualified ambassadors that served for a year only in the past, including one instance where an embassy was opened with a qualified ambassador which was closed just one year later. "Qualifica- tions aren't enough to deter- mine whether an ambassador is good enough." He said the Opposition was right to voice its disagreement but he could not accept it "looking at people rather than the role". Abela said there had been other instances where a nomi- nee lacked experience but where the Opposition had voted in favour. "The position being taken by the Opposition is based on the fact that people should be disqualified because of their friendships or links to certain people." Mifsud Bonnici said every po- sition taken had been justified. "All we are saying is that his re- plies show he has no experience whatsoever in diplomacy... the fact that he is friends with the Prime Minister is another issue and one that the Opposition has not mentioned." New Montenegro ambassador Karl Izzo says his appointment is not down to 'friends of friends' Karl Izzo, Malta's new ambassador to Montenegro, is the coach of the waterpolo national team