US Ambassador acknowledges Maltese people's generosity

The new ambassador of the United States to Malta, Molly Bordonaro, yesterday expressed her gratitude to the Maltese people for their generosity in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the city of New Orleans.

After presenting her letter of credence to President Eddie Fenech Adami, Ms Bordonaro thanked him for the "Maltese government's support and the generosity of the Maltese people in helping our country".

Speaking to the media following her meeting with Dr Fenech Adami, the ambassador described hurricane Katrina as "clearly the largest natural disaster in my country's history".

She said that in the past week there were numerous contacts with the embassy in Malta, both by the Civil Protection Department representing the government as well as non-governmental organisations like the Malta Red Cross, the Maltese American Association and SOS Malta.

"We are very grateful for that," she said.

Ms Bordonaro told Dr Fenech Adami she is looking forward to strengthen the already strong bilateral relations between Malta and the United States during her term in office. "I think our relationship will continue to grow and prosper," she said.

The new ambassador referred to the forthcoming meeting between Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and US President George Bush which will take place at the White House on October 3. The meeting, she said, would be another step towards increasing the "strong friendship" between the two countries.

Asked about the lack of a double taxation agreement between Malta and the US, the ambassador said this was a matter of ongoing discussion between the two governments.

"Our government has been very open to working with the Maltese government to discuss this issue and we will continue to do so," she said.

Ms Bordonaro told the President that although she has never been to Malta she knows this part of the Mediterranean well because her husband's family hails from Sicily.

"The hospitality of the Maltese people has been wonderful," she said.

The ambassador was nominated to the post by President Bush last May and she was confirmed by the US senate on June 16.

She was a principal in the Portland office of leading public affairs strategy and strategic communications firm the Gallatin Group. Previously, she worked in commercial real estate and owned her own strategic consulting firm. She was also a member of the US Congress' Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science and Technology. In 2001, she was recognised by the Portland Business Journal as one of the nine People Of The Year for her community service and leadership and in 2002 was recognised as one of the "40 under 40" leaders of the community.

Dr Fenech Adami yesterday also received the credentials of the new ambassador of Portugal, Antonio Augusto Russo Dias.

The 62-year-old ambassador was born in Porto Amelia, Mozambique, and graduated in law from Lisbon University. He joined the Foreign Service in 1979, was appointed third secretary at the Embassy of Portugal in Baghdad two years later and promoted to second secretary the following year.

The ambassador also served as consul in Versailles, France and held various other high-ranking positions in the diplomatic service. He was his country's ambassador to Guinea Bissau in 1999 and in 2001 was appointed ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro and accredited as non-resident to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.