President calls on people to respect cultural diversity

President Eddie Fenech Adami yesterday made an appeal to the public to respect cultural diversity and to learn from the differences between peoples rather than use them to build walls of division and misunderstanding.

Speaking during the annual Republic Day ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace, in Valletta, the President took time to thank those who were making a "unique contribution" to Malta's evolution before presenting national awards.

"Each individual's contribution, whether formally acknowledged or not, is a rich gift to us and to our society," he said.

Judge Giovanni Bonello, who is retiring from the European Court of Human Rights, and Malta's Permanent Representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, were appointed companions of the National Order of Merit.

A Gozo Channel employee, Briton Richard Bates, a professional diver, was awarded a medal for bravery for rescuing two people from a car that had rolled into the sea in October.

Two established performers - tenor Joseph Calleja and violinist Carmine Lauri - were appointed members of the National Order of Merit, together with former Malta Shipyards general manager Spiridione Aquilina and history of Malta researcher Joseph Sammut.

Ena Cremona, Malta's first judge at the Court of First Instance of the European Communities, was made officer of the National Order of Merit, and Leslie Cassar, who worked to enhance relations between Malta and Australia, and STMicroelectronics finance director Santo Salvatore Portera were made honorary members.

Snooker champion Alex Borg, Paul Curmi - fondly known as the king of carnival, teacher Mary Inglott and Peace Laboratory founder Fr Dionysius Mintoff were awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

Five of the 14 people honoured yesterday - Judge Bonello, Judge Cremona, Mr Calleja, Mro Lauri and Mr Cassar - were unable to attend the ceremony.

Dr Fenech Adami said Maltese society was united by a sense of community that fostered a sense of care towards one another and towards the island's future.

He outlined three important landmarks in the country's recent history: Malta's independence in 1964, the country becoming a republic in 1974 and EU accession two years ago.

"In joining the EU, Malta not only acquired rights and advantages, but also took on a share of European responsibility," he said, voicing his belief that no country can live in isolation and fail to be affected by what is happening around it.

The ceremony, attended by three former Presidents - Censu Tabone, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and Guido de Marco - and by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, followed the President's review of an Armed Forces of Malta guard of honour in St George's Square, Valletta, followed by a march past. Early in the afternoon Labour leader Alfred Sant placed wreaths on the Republic Day Monument, in Marsa.

Dr Sant said becoming a republic was an important achievement for Malta which could only take place thanks to several people's sacrifices. He said his party was committed to giving Malta a change of leadership.

A number of former Labour MPs who were in office when Malta became a republic attended the ceremony.