Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/329964
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 JUNE 2014 11 JURGEN BALZAN THE World Cup silly season is finally here and as expected Maltese commentators and journalists are the talk of the town (and social media sites). And despite the national broadcaster's deci- sion to air all World Cup matches in English, local commentators and journalists remain under the spotlight. However, one particular journalist did not see the funny side of it. TVM sports journalist and presenter Sandro Micallef this week threatened to take legal ac- tion against a Facebook page 'Zbalji tal-Kum- mentaturi Maltin' (Errors by Maltese com- mentators) which poked fun at his choice of words while commentating a football match. On Friday, the page's administrator uploaded Micallef's photo which included a quote which read "Jaqbez wiehed, jaqbez tnejn, qisu sikkina tahraq diehla fil-butir" (He goes past one, two players like a hot knife through butter). The feeble attempt to mock one of Malta's more experienced sports journalists was met by a strong-worded comment below the im- age by Micallef himself, copied to PBS lawyer Mark Vassallo, threatening to take legal action unless the photo was removed by midday. "I warn you that if this is not done by Fri- day noon, I will take legal action against this page, the administrator and who made use of my image/s, including an official report to Facebook, a police report at the Hamrun po- lice station and a request for an investigation by the police's Cyber Crime Unit," Micallef wrote. He also called on the page's administrator to make no reference to him "not even in a humoristic or satirical manner" on the Face- book page, insisting that "the disparaging and degrading comments not only are defamatory but could also pose a risk to my job at PBS." Micallef signed off the comment by warning that he would keep the page's administrator responsible for any moral and financial dam- ages he could suffer in his employment in the near future. However, the story had a happy ending as the image was removed, placating Micallef. In comments to MaltaToday, Micallef said "the picture has been removed and the ad- ministrators have apologised, explaining that there was no malicious intent". He added that he had no qualms being criti- cised, "as long as it's not malicious and aimed at hurting the target". Pointing out that apart from being a journal- ist and presenter, he also represented sports journalists in his role as secretary-general of the Malta Sports Journalists Association, Mi- callef said: "It's easy to be an armchair critic but everyone should shoulder his or her re- sponsibility." Yet, in a separate post the page's administra- tor fell short from issuing an outright apol- ogy, instead pointing out that Micallef and his lawyer's reaction was "childish and dispropor- tionate". The note added that "after submitting to the legal threats I wish to end all communication between us and bilaterally stop from hinder- ing each other in our work". Moreover, the image and any other referenc- es to Micallef had been removed "not because we are brownnosing anyone or because we did anything wrong but out of respect to his ca- reer and dignity" the administrator said. The administrator also explained that the image was copied from Google Images, insist- ing that at no point was the image used to de- grade Micallef. "We only used quotations by journalists be- cause of the public nature of their job and the fact that they're open to criticism and satire since we live in a society which supposedly holds freedom of thought and expression as sacrosanct." JAMES DEBONO THE Las Palmas restaurant, lo- cated within an 18th century fort in Bahar ic-Caghaq, has been served with an enforcement notice after a metal railing structure to serve as a raised platform for tables, chairs and umbrellas was erected at the back of the building a few weeks ago. The resulting illegalities are en- croaching on a small sandy beach in the area. The scheduled historical build- ing, constructed in the 18th century by the Order of St John, enjoys the highest level of protection, is leased from the government and is pres- ently used as a bar and restaurant. The illegal structure is not affixed to the redoubt but still impinges on views of the fort. Ten years ago, the Malta Environ- ment and Planning Authority is- sued an enforcement notice against the construction of a timber tent, pillars, an extension to the structure and a retaining wall. This enforcement order specifi- cally referred to works on the walls of the historical building. The government property division was alerted to these illegalities. In 2003, MEPA refused to issue the permit but the decision was overturned a year later when the works were regularised against the advice of the Planning Directorate in 2004. On 14 March, 2013 the tenant ap- plied to carry out alterations to the property and to place tables and chairs at room level. The application is still being processed by MEPA. While not objecting in principle to proposed works, the Superintend- ence for Cultural Heritage objected to the development of a roof level as this was deemed incompatible with the scheduled status of the build- ing. According to existing law, MEPA cannot issue a permit on a site where illegalities are still in place. Moreover the law also states that MEPA cannot regularise illegali- ties in scheduled monuments. But this could change in the next few months as the government in- tends to change the law preventing MEPA from regularising illegalities on scheduled sites, preferring to im- pose fines. MATTHEW VELLA THE European Union is looking southwards to develop a "southern gas corridor" for natural gas from Azerbaijan to fuel the European mainland. The European Commission re- leased an EU energy security strat- egy earlier this week, in response to the political crisis in Ukraine which is threatening gas supplies from Russia, after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia could cut off supplies to Ukraine unless the latter starts to pay off its gas debt, which Russia's Gazprom says stands at €2.5 billion. A key policy that also ties in with the Maltese government's prospec- tive energy shift to gas, supplied by Azeri state corporation SOCAR, will be the creation of the southern corridor running from the Caspian region and into Italy. Beyond improving trade with the region, the EC said this week it wants to see the development of a "critical infrastructure", whose via- bility ultimately depends on having access to sufficient export volumes. It is now expected that by 2020, 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natu- ral gas produced in Azerbaijan will reach the European market through the southern gas corridor. "Moreover, this new pipeline con- nection is vital in providing a con- nection to the Middle East. The currently envisaged infrastructure in Turkey could accommodate up to 25 bcm/y for the European mar- ket. In the longer term perspective, other countries such as Turkmeni- stan, Iraq and Iran, if conditions are met to lift the sanctions regime, could also significantly contribute to the enlargement of the South- ern Gas Corridor," the Commission said. The more interesting keyword is the "Mediterranean gas hub" which the EU would like to develop in the south of Europe together with North African and Eastern Medi- terranean partners. Malta will be supplied with natural gas on an 18-year charter of a float- ing storage unit from SOCAR Trad- ing, which has the exclusive right to supply LNG to a new 200MW plant at Delimara. Electrogas is made up of Gasol, SOCAR, Gem Holdings (Tumas and Gasan business groups) and Siemens Projects Ventures. So far, only Gasol has acquired the special purpose vehicle with all the nec- essary permits to undertake the project for €30 million. Italy is also placing increasing im- portance on completing the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to bring Azeri gas to Italy, but is also sup- porting the South Stream project, which will transport Russian gas bypassing Ukraine. Italy is angling at becoming a southern European gas hub able to transit African supplies into Europe as it develops reverse flow capabili- ties at its northern borders. Deputy Industry Minister Claudio De Vincenti has said that Italy is also looking at developing a gas link with the East Mediterranean. News TVM sports journalist in spat with satirical Facebook page EU wants 'Mediterranean hub' for Azeri gas MEPA clamps down on restaurant in 18th century fort Platform added to the historical 18th century fort, encroaching on small beach