Ambassador appointed to Portugal's Order of Merit

The Maltese Ambassador to Portugal, Salv Stellini has been appointed a Member of Portugal's Order of Merit by President Anibal Cavaco Silva.

The Portuguese President told Mr Stellini that the Portuguese government was grateful for his support at the time of the setting up of its Embassy in Malta and for opening Malta's Embassy in Lisbon.

The award was also in recognition of Mr Stellini's contribution, as Malta's first resident Ambassador in Lisbon, to the strong relations existing between the two countries.

The appointment was made at a farewell call by the Ambassador on the President, prior to the termination of his tenure at the end of this month.

President Silva said Maltese-Portuguese relations will be further strengthened later this year with a visit by President Eddie Fenech Adami, whom he very much looked forward to welcoming in Lisbon.