Ciampi proposes Italian as Malta's third official language

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi yesterday suggested that Malta make Italian its third official language.

The remark reflects just how strong the ties between the two countries are seen to have become, a point that was also stressed by President Guido de Marco as he began a three-day state visit to Italy.

"President de Marco and I have taken note of the increasingly closer economic, cultural and linguistic relations that exist between Italy and Malta," President Ciampi said at a joint press conference after the two held official talks at Palazzo del Quirinale, in Rome.

"The Italian language is already well established in Malta. We wish to strengthen its presence still further. Indeed, I ask President de Marco: Why not make it the third official language of Malta?"

Prof. de Marco did not reply to the comment but he did speak of the two countries' "excellent" relations, saying they went beyond mere cooperation between good neighbours.

"Our relations are rooted in history, forged by geographic reality and deeply embedded in our linguistic and cultural relations," he said.

The political dimension had been reinforced by successive governments since Malta assumed independence while the five financial protocols and the presence of the Italian military mission in Malta were further evidence of the two countries' strong friendship.

President de Marco thanked Italy for its constant support during Malta's negotiations with the European Union, adding that membership would provide a new élan to bilateral relations.

"Malta will continue working closely with Italy on several issues at all levels - bilateral, regional, European and multilateral."

This is the third state visit by a Maltese president since Malta became a republic and Prof. de Marco's first, although during his presidency he has been on a number of official trips to Italy, where he is held in high regard.

President de Marco invited President Ciampi for a state visit to Malta.

This visit had originally been planned to take place last April but had to be postponed due to Malta's EU referendum and general election.

A sizable delegation is accompanying the President. Among its members are Foreign Minister Joe Borg, Attorney General Anthony Borg Barthet, University of Malta rector Roger Ellul-Micallef as well as financial and business representatives, there to boost trade and investment. They include the governor of the Central Bank, Michael Bonello; the chairman of Malta Enterprise, Joseph Zammit Tabona; the vice-president of the Federation of Industry, Anthony Tabone and Louis Apap Bologna, president of the Chamber of Commerce.

The strengthening of commercial ties has an important place in this state visit. The President, Mr Bonello and Mr Zammit Tabona addressed the Union of Rome Industrialists at its headquarters just outside the city yesterday afternoon in the first of a series of meetings with Italian business leaders.

"This state visit doesn't only interpret politics on a diplomatic level but also on a commercial level," Prof. de Marco said.

Malta's commercial potential had another champion yesterday, in the form of the union's president Giancarlo Elia Valori, who spoke of the island's sustained economic development over the last couple of years.

Dr Borg Barthet and Pierluigi Vigna, the head of Italy's antimafia organisation, signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at facilitating cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of organised crime.

The President held talks with Pierferdinando Casini, the president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, and in the evening he attended a state dinner held in his honour by President Ciampi at Palazzo del Quirinale.

Today he will have more political meetings and tomorrow he is scheduled to have an audience with the Pope after concluding his state visit.