Malta tells Greek website to mind its language

Date: 24/04/03

By Geseth Todd

MALTA is pushing for its national language to be included on the Greek presidency's e-Vote website.

The move follows the Greek site's adoption of eight candidate country languages to mark the Accession Treaty signing in Athens on 16 April.

The e-Vote site, launched to promote electronic democracy in Europe, allows users to put forward their views for a future EU in 19 different languages.

According to e-Vote spokesperson Kati Kaskeala, the decision to leave out Maltese was made on the basis that English is the island's official second language.

But Chris Gerema, press attaché for Malta's mission to the EU, argued that since the other candidate countries' languages were available, "we would expect Maltese to be there as well".

He added that the embassy would be happy to work with the Greek presidency to ensure e-Vote is accessible in Maltese.

• Visit the Greek presidency website at www.eu2003.gr

Malta is pushing for its national language to be included on the Greek Presidency's e-Vote website.

http://evote.eu2003.gr/EVOTE/en/index.stm http://evote.eu2003.gr/EVOTE/en/index.stm

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