Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/302202
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 APRIL 2014 13 Interview plaints is the argument that the US has been either unwilling or unable to put concrete pressure on Israel to accept a two-state solution… or even to stop building new settlements, in accordance with agreements that the US helped to broker. How can the world take the US se- riously when it seems unable to bring an ally to accept the need for a reso- lution to this conflict? "It would be hard to argue that the US is not making an effort in the re- gion," she replies. "US engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian situation has been unmatched by any country in the world. I absolutely reject the view that the US is not committed to the issue, or has not done enough." Nonetheless, she admits that much of this effort goes unnoticed. "Most of the work is done behind closed doors. But a lot of work is being done. The obstacles, the mis-steps, the problems… these are all very well known, and very, very real. But the US commitment to helping the parties reach an agreement has been profound." Be that as it may, the situation on the ground in Gaza and the occupied territories has hardly improved in the meantime. Some might argue that, despite all the diplomatic efforts, it has deteriorated considerably. Many Palestinians still live in a state of ab- ject poverty, and human rights abuses continue to be widespread… "Yes, and rockets continue to be fired into Israel, too. But is the situa- tion changing for the worse?" The an- swer to that question, Abercrombie- Winstanley adds, depends on how far back you go when comparing the past with the present. The Israeli-Palestin- ian question, after all, is an issue that has deep roots. "I am reminded of an open letter to the Israeli/Palestinian people from someone in Ireland, which compared the situation with the conflicts of Northern Ireland. It said something like, 'We have been in a fight for 800 years. Don't make the same mistakes we made'." This in turn makes for an optimistic comparison. For even if some hostil- ity remains, the Northern Ireland conflict – arguably much older than its Israeli-Palestinian counterpart (unless, of course, you trace the lat- ter's origins all the way back to the foundation of the Kingdom of Israel some 3,500 years ago) does seem to have been settled in recent years. Could a similar resolution be on the cards in Israel? As with the Libyan question, Abercrombie-Winstanley seems to discern a faint light at the end of the tunnel. "Part of the out- come of all that work I talked about earlier is that both sides are talking to each other. There is an effort by both parties, helped by the US, to reach a solution. But the obstacles are pro- found. As long as the doors of com- munication remain open, there is hope for a solution." As we have we have so far discussed issues pertaining to at least four dis- tinct global regions – America, Eu- rope, Africa and the Middle East – it is perhaps inevitable that we extend the net to also include a fifth: Asia. In the past year we have seen unprec- edented interest shown in Malta by China, mainly in the form of an ener- gy deal which envisions a sharehold- ing in Enemalta, and ownership of the power station. It is no secret that relations between the US and China are somewhat frigid at the moment. How, therefore, does the US view the strengthening of relations between Malta and China? Is Abercrombie- Winstanley, as US ambassador, con- cerned that China may be seeking to expand its political influence in Eu- rope specifically through Malta? "The short answer to your question is 'no'," she replies genially. "Every na- tion is focused on its own economic interest. China is no exception." Nor, for that matter, is the US. "We are all looking out for our interests. Increasing trade opportunities is part of the job of a diplomat, too. Just as we support measures that may boost US trade, I recognise that other coun- tries are entitled to do the same." US ambassador to Malta Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley acknowledges that the situation in Libya is far from satisfactory, and that the challenges in Ukraine and Israel are considerable. But there is light at the end of the diplomatic tunnel PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Patience is key to Libya's future