Irish President leaves Malta

Irish President Mary McAleese left Malta yesterday after a packed two-day state visit.

Ms McAleese, who was invited to Malta by President Eddie Fenech Adami, laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in Floriana, attended a State concert and State dinner in her honour at the Palace, Valletta, and had meetings with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant.

The Irish President also visited St John's Co-Cathedral, the Hypogeum Temples in Paola and the Upper Barracca Gardens before meeting businessmen at the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise on Friday.

During the Irish President's stay, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo and his Irish counterpart Dermot Ahern signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland.

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.

Ms McAleese, who was accompanied by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, was seen off by Dr Fenech Adami, his wife Mary, and Dr Gonzi.