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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 JULY 2014 News THE United Kingdom's role in the Commonwealth has to become more egalitarian, or risk the Com- monwealth "sinking into total ir- relevance within the next decade", Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told an audience at the London School of Economics. In a speech on the Commonwealth marking its 65th anniversary, Mus- cat remarked that the sentimental relevance of the former British em- pire's colonies was declining among member states who, like Malta, saw themselves more as independent nations rather than as former Brit- ish colonies. "However, the idea that Malta should be involved within a wider in- ternational context remains strong. Indeed, Malta places a lot of im- portance on its membership in the European Union, an organisation that is geographically much smaller than the combined area of the Com- monwealth nations. This makes the potential economic growth of a uni- fied Commonwealth much higher than that of the EU," Muscat said. The Prime Minister said EU states shared direct economic benefits as well as a shared commitment to- wards the freedom of movement of people, goods and capital. Countries who wish to join the EU must cede some political responsibilities to the union, an act Muscat described as "courageous". "I believe that in the minds of many, the Commonwealth is seen as a vehicle of each and every mem- ber's relations, many times of the rollercoaster type, with the United Kingdom. Can it be otherwise?" Muscat asked. He said small nations see Com- monwealth meetings as an oppor- tunity to rub shoulders with "global mammoths" in the hope of listening in on discussions that will affect their own economic development Muscat also noted significant po- litical friction in Commonwealth meetings with "prime ministers standing, thinking, sitting, look- ing at each other, standing again, and then sitting in another place… a veritable snapshot of the north/ south, developed/under-developed, centre/periphery, big/small coun- tries debate." Muscat said that while he did not wish to see the Commonwealth adopt an EU-like structure, he augured that the United Kingdom's role in the Commonwealth would assume a more egalitarian tone, de- spite its history as a coloniser. Muscat suggested three possible models for the future of the Com- monwealth, one of which was dis- banding it and regrouping it accord- ing to an updated Charter of Values. The second model was that of a "multi-speed Commonwealth" with a nation's membership dependent on its adherence to a "stringent" set of rules. Such rules would include democracy, minority and gay rights, religious freedom, transparency, and environmental sustainability. The third model was that of a Commonwealth that offers "politi- cal and technical assistance", nudg- ing its member states towards more open governance. Muscat did not identify in his speech which of the three models he personally preferred. Malta will host the next Com- monwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2015 after Mauritius, the original hosting na- tion, withdrew, citing human rights issues in fellow Commonwealth- nation Sri Lanka. 24 Commonwealth needs egalitarian UK, or risk irrelevance – Muscat Artist 'SeaPuppy' brightens up the gentrified Sliema walls for this year's edition of the Sliema Street Art Festival, which took place across Sliema last week. An increasingly popular event organised by Add More Colours in collaboration with the Sliema Local Council, its second edition – which ran from 18 to 20 July – attracted local and international street artists, as well as a number of musicians Joseph Muscat addressing the audience at the LSE MATTHEW VELLA THE Nationalist Party used the occasion of Iftar, the breaking of the Ramadan fast for Muslims, to brandish its secularist identity in the first ever celebration of the oc- casion by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil. "The PN respects religious freedoms and guarantees the liberty and right of everybody to express their faith," Busuttil said yesterday. The event was organised by the PN's equal opportunities forum FOIPN and members of the Muslim community. "Our vision is that of a pluralist, secular and free society where every- one enjoys their full right to express their belief, without impinging upon the liberty of others to do likewise or on society's right to take demo- cratic decisions based not on some religious belief, but on the common good," the Opposition leader said. Busuttil said people in public life who expected others with differ- ent religious beliefs not to express their opinion, were "anti-liberal" and threatened other people's basic rights. "The PN believes in the dignity of every human being, and we endorse this rainbow of beliefs. The Muslim community is an integral part of Maltese society," Busuttil said. Imam Mohammed El Sadi was al- so present for the occasion, and gave thanks to Busuttil for the party's hospitality. Simon Busuttil meets the younger members of the Muslim community during Iftar Democratic decisions should be based on common good, not religious belief PN deputy leader receiving medical treatment abroad THE deputy leader of the Nation- alist Party Beppe Fenech Adami is currently abroad for medical treat- ment. In a statement, the PN said Fenech Adami will be unavailable for a few days due to the medical care he is receiving. Fenech Adami turns 46 next month. While wishing him a speedy re- covery, the PN appealed for his fam- ily's privacy to be respected.

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