Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/368911
JAMES DEBONO FIFTY years after Malta gained its place in the inter- national community of nations as an independent state, a MaltaToday survey explores how the Maltese view the rest of the world and finds local admiration for austerity-driven Germany and its Chancellor An- gela Merkel. The Maltese also display openness towards China, with 60% approving the partial sale of Enemalta to a Chinese government-owned company. The survey also shows strong disapproval of Israeli and Russian foreign policies. When asked to express a preference between six world leaders the Maltese prefer German Chancellor Angela Merkel to US President Barack Obama, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and UK Prime Minis- ter David Cameron. Vladimir Putin is the least liked, surpassed even by the less known Chinese President, Li Xinping. Despite the Chancellor's bad reputation in neigh- bouring Mediterranean nations, German foreign policy gets a 70% approval rating here. The Maltese are also most likely to side with the West in Ukraine and largely disapprove of Russian for- eign policy. But despite a general western orientation in their foreign policy choices, the Maltese strongly disapprove of Israeli foreign policy, which has been traditionally supported by the West. Moreover despite the West's traditional support for Israel, only 7% support Israel in the current war in Gaza, which received lukewarm support from the US, whose foreign policy is only deemed positive by 41%. The Maltese are also lukewarm towards China's for- eign policy, approved by only 38% of respondents, but are open to Chinese investment to the extent that 60% approve an agreement through which a Chinese state owned company would buy a 33% stake in Enemalta. The Maltese are divided when asked whether Malta should emulate Dubai's model when it comes to de- velopment, as recently suggested by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, even if they tend to associate the rich emirate with luxury and extreme wealth. In what could be an indication of widespread disin- terest in EU institutions more than two thirds cannot name the newly elected President of the EU commis- sion. A survey of attitudes towards 15 countries also re- vealed that Germany is admired for being disciplined and economically stable and that Sweden is more known in Malta for its blondes than for its gender equality and welfare state. Azerbaijan is more known for hosting the Eurovi- sion two years ago than for its role in supplying gas to the new power station. Confirming prejudices against both Africans and East Europeans, South Africa is incorrectly associated with diseases like Ebola and nearly a tenth associate Romania with criminals. Moreover Ebola is considered one of the major threats to world security even if the spread of the dis- ease has so far been limited to poor countries with an inadequate health system. Perceptions on China range from awe for its eco- nomic progress and an anachronistic association of modern capitalist China with communism. maltatoday ACTING - MUSICAL THEATRE FOR ADULTS (16+YR) MASQUERADE SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS M S P A C E Call MASQUERADE today on 2124 6619 / 7979 3737 or email us on info@masquerademalta.com for full details. MASQUERADEMALTA.COM Facebook.com/MasqueradeMalta Triq Oscar Zammit Msida Newspaper post Merkel 'most popular', Israel and Russia shunned, Chinese welcomed YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT PROF. VICTOR AXIAK, OUTSPOKEN LAY CATHIOLIC SAYS CREMONA FEELS SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS 'I don't believe Joseph Muscat has 'silenced' others. Silence comes from one's own fear.' CREMONA THE CHURCH, ITS CRITICS, AND A NEW CRISIS? SUNDAY • 24 AUGUST 2014 • ISSUE 772 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY PG11 and SAVIOUR BALZAN PG18 FULL SURVEY 14-17 How the ice bucket challenge and Facebook raised $61 million for ALS How the ice bucket BALZAN GETS THE ICE BUCKET TREATMENT €1.20 INTERVIEW mt survey MaltaToday's 50th anniversary Independence survey maps out the way the Maltese have stereotyped the world around them Islamists claim Tripoli, air strikes target fighters AT least 10 people were killed after twin attacks on positions of mi- litias allied to government in the Libyan capital yesterday. Two air strikes by unidenti- fied planes targeted positions of government-aligned fighters in Tripoli. Ten people were killed and dozens wounded, a spokesman for Opera- tion Dawn, a bloc of Islamist-lean- ing forces mainly from Misrata, told the Reuters news agency. Residents heard loud explosions early on Saturday morning near the main airport where militias have been fighting for control of the capital for more than one month. Local channel al-Nabaa said the planes attacked four positions of Operation Dawn. Buildings of state oil firm al-Waha located near the airport road were also hit, said Mohamed Gharyani, spokesman for Operation Dawn. Forces of renegade General Kha- lifa Haftar, who launched a mili- tary campaign against Islamists in Benghazi claimed responsibility for air strikes on fighters in Tripoli. But Dawn militias succeeded in wresting control of Tripoli Interna- tional Airport from Zintani forces. Libya Herald yesterday reported fires burning in what remains of the buildings and already damaged aircraft. Yesterday Prime Minister Ab- dullah al-Thani called on Egypt and Tunisia to open its airspace again for flights to western Libya. Both countries had cancelled most flights for security reasons after the air strikes, cutting off a vital link to the outside for Libyans and foreigners fleeing fighting. Tripoli has largely slipped out of control of the government, with senior officials working from Tobruk in the far east, and now lacking a functioning national army, relying on militia for public security. WATCH SAVIOUR BALZAN'S ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE PGS 12-13