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I was away from the island for three weeks, partly on an Opus Dei
annual sabbatical workshop dealing with Christology (the essence and
being of Christ – one substance but two natures) and partly on holiday.
Together with my wife and two daughters, I spent several days enjoying
the delights of Lake Como in Italy which is easily accessible from Milan
by train (30 minutes). There is however a big change in scenery from
that in Milan, when walking out of the main station in Como San
Giovanni! It's really breathtaking to see the majestic lake itself
surrounded by rising high mountains whose peaks were often ringed with
puffy clouds. The stately villas with their beautiful flower and tree
gardens are something to behold in themselves, several of them being
just summer residences for those who want to get away from Milan’s
summer heat.
......
Two years ago I wrote an article from Rome after having several discussions with a Spanish colleague of mine during a similar Opus Dei
workshop retreat then dealing with marriage. He was a supernumerary
like me, married with children and a navy captain at the Nato command in
Naples. In between lectures in theology and prayers, we often talked in
our free time about security in the Mediterranean. He asked me pointed
questions about Malta’s future security which I then realised underlined
the deficiencies we potentially faced then and which are increasingly
crystallizing now. I subsequently wrote a piece published by this
newspaper and asked whether Malta should start seeking membership of
Nato since we are already a member of PfP. Not surprisingly, even though
my article then was in the form of a question, I was taken to task and
openly ridiculed by the leftist press and politicians who were then in
Opposition. Today, with Labour in government, we suddenly have the
Minister of Foreign Affairs asking the same questions I asked two years
ago. Nobody on the left is laughing now it seems! Dr Vella went on to
express his wish that security arrangements similar to those in other
European neutral countries should be sought.
.....
Read the rest here.
