Ministries’ mobile ban lifted for the press

Journalists visiting the Foreign Ministry would no longer be routinely asked to deposit their mobile phones with security personnel before going to the minister’s office, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed. The lifting of the ban applies to all ministries. The mobile phones of all other visitors to the ministry, including ambassadors and high-ranking representatives of other countries, will, however, still be banned in George Vella’s office. The ban had been imposed on the minister’s personal instructions, citing security reasons. When asked what security threats he feared when mobile phones are still allowed in other offices of the same ministry, a spokesman for Dr Vella replied that it was the minister’s decision. Times of Malta last week reported sources at Palazzo Parisio stating that Dr Vella feared his conversations would be recorded. The Office of the Prime Minister said it ordered all ministries to allow journalists to keep their phones. However, a spokesman said that ministers could still ask guests at meetings not to carry their mobile phones with them, whether for security reasons or because the meeting would be of a sensitive nature. The spokesman noted that...