Malta's Italian patrimony - My latest published letter

[Ederico]

The Times & The Sunday Times, Malta
Malta's Italian patrimony

Edric Micallef Figallo, Nadur.


I welcomed with great joy the news reported on The Times (February 2) of an Italo-Maltese cultural agreement. Cultural activity in Malta needs tremendous bolstering up and this agreement will hopefully bear positive fruits particularly given the contracting parties involved in the agreement.


What I would like to know, however, as a Maltese enamoured with Maltese and Italian culture and who as a Maltese considers them both his national patrimony, is whether to "promote the knowledge and spread of each language in the other country" refers to Maltese and Italian. Is that so, or am I correct in sensing that this refers to English and Italian especially considering that the scholarships offered to Italians involve, as reported, the teaching of the English language? I hope that knowledge of our Maltese language is actively part of the plans involved in this agreement. An answer on this from the ministry concerned wouldn't hurt the public.


I hope that this agreement is not a case of one sporadic news item in a daily edition of the many of a newspaper but that it bears substantial fruits for Maltese culture. A perfect start would be if it actually unveils the truth of Italian heritage in Malta. That would be highlighting the intrinsic Italian patrimony of the Maltese nation which was disturbed and persecuted with the intent of elimination by British Imperial authorities for over 50 years starting in the 1880s and practically ending with the convenient pretext of fascism in the 1930s.


Perhaps ditching the deleterious political correctness that enshrouds the question would be an excellent attitude by honest people seeking the truth. Two eloquent Italian expressions come to mind, these being "la verità offende" and "alla verità non si scappa". It is time to deal with a question which some consider dead but which is only dormant. Truth and respect of our ancestors and our own national heritage demand it.

-------------------

In reply to this:

The Times & The Sunday Times, Malta

Malta, Italy sign wide-ranging cultural agreement

The Italian government is offering 140 scholarships to Maltese citizens, and Malta is offering 68 to Italians to learn English.


This is one aspect of a collaboration agreement on culture, signed yesterday by the two countries for the years 2007 to 2009.


They agreed on the exchange of experts to study each other's educational systems and contribute to their improvement, as well as promote the knowledge and spread of each language in the other country.


The agreement also provides for collaboration between the University of Malta and Italian universities and other academic institutions, with meetings between their respective rectors.


In the cultural sector, the two countries would be using the services of their respective organisations for the exchange and promotion of ethnic and cultural activities, with a particular emphasis on music, drama and dance.


The agreement also provides for cooperation in the sphere of excavations and archaeological research, and the exchange of experts.


In terms of heritage and culture, it calls for complete cooperation between Heritage Malta and the Italian culture ministry.


Moreover, every year, Malta and Italy will be taking archivists to work in each other's countries to increase their cooperation in the area, while collaboration between PBS and Rai is also part of the agreement.


It was signed by the permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Cecilia Attard Pirotta, and the Italian Ambassador to Malta, Paolo Trabalza in the presence of the Foreign Minister Michael Frendo and the Italian Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Famiano Crucianelli.