1.
GV PETROL TANKERS AT MALTA AIRPORT
0.15

2.
GV RAF AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC
0.23

3.
SV PAN DITTO
0.30

4.
SV COMBAT AIRCRAFT
0.35

5.
GV DITTO
0.41

6.
CU OLIVIER SPEAKS SOF


7.
GV SHELL STATION ZOOM OUT TO PETROL TANKERS
2.03


TRANSCRIPT SEQ. 6: OLIVIER: "MALTA CERTAINLY IS A HURT ISLAND. WE FEEL, WE ALL FEEL, THAT WE ARE BEING VERY BADLY LET DOWN. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS TAKING DECISIONS UNILATERALLY AND REGARDLESS OF ALL THE DISAPPOINTMENT AND THE SUFFERING WHICH THESE ACTIONS ARE CAUSING. IT IS NOT FAIR OF MR BOWDEN (COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY) TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE SEVERE REDUCTIONS ARE NOW BEING PHASED OUT OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS INSTEAD OF TWO YEARS. THE BRUTAL BLOW, AS WE CERTAINLY CONSIDER IT, IS STILL CONCENTRATED IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS, STARTING IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, COMES AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE ALL STRIVING, PARTICULARLY SINCE INDEPENDENCE, TO STAND ON OUR FEET WITH THE HELP OF BRITAIN, WITH WHOM WE HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENING, AND STILL ARE STRENGTHENING OUR BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AS NEVER BEFORE."




Initials JSU/V/RM/K



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ALL ROYAL AIR FORCE PLANES IN MALTA WERE GROUNDED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) CLAMPED DOWN ON DUTY FREE OIL SUPPLIES FOR THE R.A.F. -- THE LATEST MOVE IN THE ISLAND'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST BRITISH DEFENCE CUTS. OIL FIRMS WERE ORDERED BY THE COMPTROLLER OF CUSTOMS TO CUT OFF AVIATION FUEL SUPPLIES AFTER THE R.A.F. REFUSED TO PAY THE DUTY.

AN R.A.F. SPOKESMAN SAID ALL FLIGHTS HAD BEEN SUSPENDED WHILE INSTRUCTIONS WERE AWAITED FROM LONDON. THE OIL DECISION, WHICH DOES NOT AFFECT CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT, WAS INCLUDED IN A WIDE-RANGING BAN IMPOSED BY THE CUSTOMS NOT TO RELEASE GOODS UNLESS DUTY WAS PAID ON THEM. THIS STEP IMPLEMENTED THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO DENY BRITISH FORCES "ALL RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND FACILITIES" THEY ENJOYED UNDER THE 10-YEAR-OLD DEFENCE TREATY SIGNED TWO YEARS AGO.

IN AN INTERVIEW, THE PRIME MINISTER, DOCTOR BORG OLIVIER SPOKE OF THE MOOD OF HIS PEOPLE.