Presidents stress Malta's bridge-building role

Malta's close links with North Africa and the Middle East are a valuable asset to the European Union and its member states, Irish President Mary McAleese said.

"You are in a good position to foster a spirit of open dialogue, understanding and communication with the European Union's southern neighbours," she said, adding that dialogue was never more urgently needed than at this time, when more bridges between cultures, and not more barricades, were needed.

Mrs McAleese made the remarks in a pre-dinner speech at the Palace in Valletta on Thursday evening soon after she arrived on a two-day state visit. President Eddie Fenech Adami said Malta considered itself, and was perceived to be, a bridge between north and south.

Sadly, he said, over recent years the Mediterranean had been witness to a human tragedy on a large scale as hundreds were losing their lives in an attempted journey to reach European shores.

"This is a problem faced most acutely by Malta due to the unprecedented influx of irregular immigrants which is placing a disproportionate strain on the limited resources of our island.

"Malta is grateful to Ireland for embracing the principle of burden-sharing and accepting to lend a hand to Malta by resettling a number of refugees within its territory," Dr Fenech Adami said.

He added that the problem of irregular immigration was a common European challenge that required a collective and unitary effort. However, the European Union could not solve the problem on its own - it must do so in a holistic and thorough manner by working in collaboration with its neighbouring north African countries, where the irregular immigrants originated from.

Yesterday the Irish President began her day by receiving a courtesy visit from Labour leader Alfred Sant at San Anton Palace. This was followed by a tree-planting ceremony at San Anton together with President Eddie Fenech Adami and a call by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. She later visited St Patrick's School and Home for Boys in Sliema, St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and the Hypogeum Temples in Paola. Mrs McAleese and her husband were then hosted to lunch at Auberge de Castille by Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi. Dr Gonzi said in a speech that with Malta's accession to the European Union the bond between the two countries has been strengthened.

"It is now up to us to make the best of the opportunities that European membership offers, and there is no better model to emulate than that demonstrated by Ireland, which has become famed as the 'Celtic Tiger' and has shown its ability to thrive in a complex and newly globalised world.

"Indeed the Irish success story has been one of the most powerful arguments for continued European construction," the Prime Minister said.

President McAleese later visited the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta before attending a meeting with Maltese businessmen at the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. The police imposed strict but discreet security throughout the visit. Upper Barrakka Gardens was closed for nearly an hour before Mrs McAleese arrived there with the Prime Minister for a walk to see the harbour.

In the evening the Irish President and Dr McAleese hosted a dinner in honour of President and Mrs Fenech Adami at the Corinthia Palace in Attard. Mrs McAleese leaves Malta this morning.

Cooperation deal

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo and his Irish counterpart Dermot Ahern yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland.

Mr Ahern is in Malta accompanying the President of Ireland during her state visit to Malta. The agreement allows for regular consultations on an annual basis to examine all aspects of the bilateral relations between Malta and Ireland and to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest concerning the possibility of taking joint initiatives.

The consultations will cover political, economic, scientific, technological, cultural and cooperation issues particularly within the context of Malta's and Ireland's reciprocal membership in the European Union and in international fora.

This agreement also allows for short-term exchange of public officials from the respective administrations.