Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1455666
NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 FEBRUARY 2022 5 Opera onal Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a compe ve and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Project part-financed by the Cohesion Fund Co-financing rate: 85% European Union Funds; 15% Na onal Funds Visit www.water.org.mt to find more tips. IF YOU HAVE A WELL, START USING IT YOU CAN USE YOUR WELL WATER FOR MANY THINGS IN YOUR HOME. SUCH AS: WATERING PLANTS WASHING FLOORS & WINDOWS WASHING CLOTHES & CARS FLUSHING WELL WATER SHOULD NEVER BE USED FOR CONSUMPTION, OR SHOWERING. MATTHEW VELLA MALTA will not yet follow in the footsteps of Italy to strike off Russian recipients from its national honours list, specifi- cally to revoke a Republic Day honour to Russian Upper House Speaker Valentina Matviyeko. Italian foreign minister Luigi di Maio told reporters in Brus- sels on Friday that his country would remove all honours it had bestowed to members of the Russian government or Russian personalities. "This is another initiative that explains the way Italy will con- duct itself," Di Maio told the press after a meeting of EU for- eign ministers. "The Italian re- public's honours go to honoura- ble people. We don't think there is anything 'honourable' in what Russia is doing in Ukraine." A spokesperson for the Prime Minister would only say Malta will apply sanctions agreed upon at EU level, when asked whether Matviyenko would be struck off. Matviyenko was a former am- bassador, decorated by Joseph Muscat's Labour administra- tion on Republic Day in 2013, as an Honorary Companion with Breast Star, an honour conferred upon foreigners "who have promoted and fostered in- ternational relations with Malta or earned the respect and admi- ration of the nation". Matviyenko was honoured for her contribution towards bilat- eral cooperation between Malta and Russia, when she served as ambassador between 1991 and 1995. But already then, the honour conferred had been controver- sial: as Speaker of the Federa- tion Council, Matviyenko had that year promoted a bill intro- ducing fines for "propaganda of non-traditional sex relations to minors" . The law created a charge for "promotion of ho- mosexuality among children", slammed as "anti-gay" by gay rights activists in Russia and abroad. Malta has previously revoked the Gieħ ir-Repubblika it con- ferred upon Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi – twice in 2004 under the Gonzi admin- istration (PN), and 1975 by the Mintoff administration (La- bour) – and to deposed Tuni- sian president Zine Ben Ali, who was conferred the honour in 2005. The honours were re- voked in 2011 during the Arab Spring and the revolutions that ousted them. Due to her role in the Crime- an annexation and referendum, Matviyenko also became one of the first people to be placed under executive sanctions by the Obama administration. The 2014 sanctions froze her assets in the United States and banned her from entering the United States. As Speaker, Matviyenko took part in the Security Council meeting this week where senior Russian officials spoke in favour of recognising the separatist Lu- hanks and Donetsk 'republics', ahead of Russia's full-scale in- vasion. Russia's upper house vot- ed unanimously to approve Vladimir Putin's request to in- vade Ukraine. Matviyenko said the decision was aimed at "establishing peace in the Donbas" and "stopping this bloody civil war, not allow- ing any more shelling of peaceful villages and civilians, to create normal conditions for people to live and ensure security." Matviyenko this week said Russia was "well aware of weak points of the West" and that a package of restrictions would be applied against Europe. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Putin's Speaker still on Malta's honours list as Italy starts revoking awards National Order of Merit: Valentina Matviyenko, Russia's 'most powerful woman'