President Eddie Fenech Adami yesterday kept his predecessors' annual traditional appointment to celebrate the feast of St Publius with a visit to the Vilhena Band Club in Floriana.

Dr Fenech Adami said St Publius was a Maltese, Malta's first bishop, a representative and administrator of the Roman empire and a civil administrator of Malta.

This should help the Maltese understand better the intimate link in Malta between the civil and Church administrations. While the two were separate, there was full and strong cooperation between them which he hoped would continue in the coming years.

The President said that Workers' Day next Saturday had a special significance this year since it was the day when Malta was becoming a member of the EU.

It was significant that 25 diverse countries, each having their own culture and identity, were getting together in a union of independent states.

The European Parliament elections in June would then unite a group of Maltese to look after Malta's interests in the EU.

Dr Fenech Adami urged people to look ahead courageously and continue doing what was most beneficial for the country.