A section of Astoria Boulevard South in the borough of Queens, New York City, US has been renamed Malta Square.

The event was recently celebrated by the Maltese community in Astoria who gathered in front of the Maltese Centre in New York on a day that coincided with the 25th anniversary of the centre's opening.

The renaming was the result of the unstinting efforts of the centre's committee, led by its president Tony Curmi, and the assistance of the New York City council, most notably councilman Peter Vallone, a statement released by the Department of Information said.

Present for the ceremony were Mr Vallone, Malta's Ambassador to the US Mark Miceli Farrugia, Malta's Ambassador to the United Nations Saviour Borg, Malta's Consul in New York Walter Mallia and Fr Lawrence Gellel, who blessed the street sign.

In thanking Mr Vallone for his support, Mr Miceli Farrugia said that all people with a Maltese connection should be proud that one of the most important cities in the world had specially dedicated a Malta Square.

Ambassador Borg and Mr Curmi also addressed the gathering.

The sizeable crowd who were present for the unveiling ceremony were later entertained to a reception at the centre's premises.

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