DISKORS MILL-PRESIDENT TA' MALTA, L-E.T. PROF. GUIDO DE MARCO, FL-OKKAŻJONI TAĊ-ĊERIMONJA TA' INVESTITURA (JUM IR-REPUBBLIKA) FIL-PALAZZ, IL-BELT VALLETTA ? 13 TA' DIĊEMBRU, 2000

It-13 ta' Diċembru jorbot lil Malta ma' l-istituzzjoni repubblikana tagħha.

Meta sitta u għoxrin sena ilu 'iet proklamata r-Repubblika, ma konniex qegħdin inwettqu t-twelid tan-nazzjon Malti bħala stat sovran u indipendenti. Dak konna ksibnih għaxar snin qabel, fil-21 ta' Settembru 1964. Anqas ma konna qegħdin infakkru t-taqbida biex inweldu f'pajjiżna sistema parlamentari. Dik it-taqbida konna għamilniha bid-demm tal-martri tas-Sette Giugno 1919.

Kien għadu ma wasalx iż-żmien li pajjiżna jeħles minn bażi militari barranija kemm jekk kienet teżisti bis-saħħa ta' trattat jew bis-saħħa ta' kiri. Kellna nistennew għall-31 ta' Marzu 1979.

Anqas ma konna qegħdin infakkru avveniment storiku ta' portata Ewropea, bħalma kien l-Otto Settembre.

F'Jum ir-Repubblika, Malta qed tfakkar istituzzjoni li biha għall-ewwel darba fil-milja tas-sekli, pajjiżna kellu bħala Kap ta' l-Istat Malti, ċittadin Malti, elett mill-Parlament tagħna.

Huwa xieraq li f'Jum ir-Repubblika, pajjiżna jagħti gieħ lil dawk li jkunu affermaw ruħhom f'xi qasam tal-ħajja politika, ċivili, kulturali, soċjali tal-poplu tagħna. Kull darba li nara l-lista ta' dawk li dawk li ser jirċievu xi onorifiċenza, nara l-lista ferm akbar ta' nisa u r'iel Maltin li tant għamlu għal artna, u s'issa ma ħadux it-tislima tal-poplu.

L-Ordni għall-Mertu u 'ieħ ir-Repubblika, ma jagħtux premji, renumerazzjoni, jew preċedenzi lil min jirċevihom.

Iżda hu testment ta' rikonoxximent lil dawk li għamlu 'ieħ lil pajjiżna.

Hu mod kif poplu jgħid grazzi lil min servih, lil min wera sens ta' patriottiżmu.

Hemm min isaqsi jekk, f'soċjeta` materjalista bħal dik attwali, il-kelma patriottiżmu għad m'għandhiex valur.

'�al oħrajn, patriottiżmu jfisser xoviniżmu nazzjonalista, konċett superat f'soċjeta` b'aspirazzjoni internazzjonali.

Jien ma naqbilx ma' dawn.

Li tkun patrijott, li tgħożż il-patrija tiegħek, li tagħti valur lil artek, li tgħaddi lill-'enerazzjoni ta' warajk dawk il-valuri li sawru 'ensna – qatt ma jgħaddi ż-żmien minn fuqhom.

Il-materjaliżmu f'kontest ta' 'id materjali, livell ta' ħajja aħjar u kwalita` ta' ħajja ogħla, huma pożitivi f'kull soċjeta`. Iżda jekk b'materjaliżmu nifhmu sitwazzjoni fejn il-bniedem isarraf fi flus jew kompens dak li huwa l-valur tas-solidarjeta` u ta' l-imħabba lejn art twelidek, allura hemm inkompatibilita` bejn patriottiżmu u materjaliżmu.

Huma ħafna dawk il-Maltin li fit-twemmin tagħhom, fil-patrija tagħna, insew lilhom infushom.

Patriottiżmu u internazzjonaliżmu ma humiex inkompatibbli. Bosta nazzjonijiet qegħdin isibu l-istabilita` politika u ekonomika tagħhom f'għaqdiet re'jonali. L-Unjoni Ewropea hija eżempju ħaj ta' dan. Pero` Schuman, De Gasperi u Adenauer ma kienux inqas patrijotti lejn arthom meta huma nidew il-kunċett ta' Ewropa unita.

Patriottiżmu m'huwiex xoviniżmu nazzjonali iżda huwa mod kif tqiegħed lil pajjiżek 'il quddiem, issaħħu fil-kontest soċjali u morali tiegħu, tibnieh madwar il-prinċipju ta' solidarjeta`. Il-patriottiżmu jagħti lill-poplu identita` u personalita`, iħares lejn l-għeruq tiegħu mhux biex jifirdu minn oħrajn jew iqiegħdu fuq oħrajn, iżda biex jieħu postu fil-mixja tal-'nus.

Huwa patriottiżmu wkoll taħdem biex pajjiżek, flimkien ma' pajjiżi oħrajn, jgħixu fil-paċi. F'mumenti fejn il-ħajja tan-nazzjon hija mheddha, il-patriottiżmu isir l-għażla ta' poplu.

Dan hu l-patriottiżmu li nemmen fih jien.

Jiena konvint li dan huwa wkoll il-patriottiżmu, li intom li qed tirċievu l-unuri llum, tagħrfu tidentifikaw ruħkom miegħu.

Lilkom nirringrazzjakom għal dak kollu li għamiltu għal Malta bid-dedikazzjoni u l-perseveranza tagħkom.

Permezz tagħkom irrid insellem ukoll lil dawk li mhumiex qegħdin ji'u formalment onorati llum u li għalija, bħala President ta' Malta, huma denji ta' l-ogħla unuri u l-aqwa tifħir.

F'isem Malta nirringrazzjakom u nsellmilkom.

December 13^th binds Malta with its republican institutions.

When Malta was declared a Republic twenty-six years ago, we were not giving birth to the Maltese nation as a sovereign and independent state. This had already been achieved ten years earlier, on 21^st September 1964. Neither were we recalling the struggle to give birth to the parliamentary system in our country. That particular struggle had been won through the blood shed by the martyrs of the Sette Giugno 1919.

The time was not ripe for our country to rid itself from the foreign military base then present, through treaty or lease. For that to happen, we had to wait until 31^st March 1979.

Neither do we commemorate a historic event of consequence for the rest of Europe, as we do on the Otto Settembre.

On Republic Day, we commemorate the establishment of institutions that, for the first time in history, saw the country have as its Head of State, a Maltese citizen, elected by our Parliament.

Appropriately, on Republic Day, our country pays homage to those who have distinguished themselves in the political, civil, cultural and social life of Maltese society. Every time I go through the list of those about to be honoured, I see a far longer list of Maltese women and men who have given much to our nation, yet whose efforts have as yet to be recognised by the country.

The Order of Merit and the Gieh ir-Repubblika do not bestow gifts, pecuniary benefits, or precedence on their recipients. However, they are a testimonial of appreciation identifying those who honour our country through their achievements. It is the way the nation expresses its appreciation to those who have served it and the community, thus manifesting a sense of patriotism.

Within a context of a consumerism as that often prevailing today, some question whether patriotism still is of value. For some others, patriotism represents an equivalent to chauvinistic nationalism – a concept that is past its day in a society with international aspirations.

I do not agree with either.

Being patriotic involves cherishing one's homeland, appreciating and bequeathing to future generations those values that contribute to the national identity – values that never age.

Materialism, in a context of the generation of wealth, better living standards and quality of life, is positive in every society. However, if by materialism we understand circumstances whereby solidarity and love of country are exchanged for monetary benefits or compensation, then patriotism and materialism are incompatible.

There are many Maltese who put the interests of the country before their own. They do this through conviction and a deep sense of patriotism.

Neither can we say that patriotism and internationalism are incompatible. For many nations, political and economic stability find fulfilment within a regional context. The European Union is one such vivid example. Schuman, De Gasperi and Adenauer were no less patriotic towards their homelands when they gave birth to the concept of a united Europe.

Patriotism is not national chauvinism. It is a way of furthering the interests of one's country and strengthening its social and moral standing, and building a society bound on the principle of solidarity. Patriotism gives a people identity and personality. It focuses on roots and not in contempt of others or to prevail over them, but rather to ensure that a people take its rightful place in the community of nations.

Patriotism also means striving so that one's country, in concert with other nations, can live in peace. When the future of a nation is threatened, then patriotism becomes the choice of peoples.

This is the patriotism that I believe in. I am convinced that this is also the kind of patriotism cherished by those being honoured today.

I thank you for your contribution to your county, a contribution built through dedication and perseverance.

In honouring you today, I also express my gratitude to all those who are not being formally honoured today. As President of Malta, I am of the opinion that they also merit the finest honours and highest praise.

In Malta's name, I express my deep appreciation.