Palestinian President to visit Malta after EU-Mediterranean summit

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will pay an official visit to Malta on his way back from the EU-Mediterranean summit to be held in Paris on July 13.

It will be Mr Abbas's first visit to Malta, during which he will be the guest of President Eddie Fenech Adami.

The visit is being held on the initiative of Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and was discussed during the recent meeting in Malta of the UN Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Dr Borg said he was honoured that Mr Abbas had accepted to visit Malta.

The Palestinian Authority appreciated Malta's backing for the two states solution providing for a viable Palestinian state and peace and security for the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Last week, Dr Borg also had a meeting with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Nasser Al Kidwa, during which an agreement was signed for Palestinian policemen to be trained in Malta.

The Labour Party said yesterday Mr Abbas told its international secretary, Joe Mifsud, that he intended to visit Malta this month. Dr Mifsud met Mr Abbas during a meeting of the Socialist International in Athens.

The MLP said Mr Abbas expressed his appreciation for the long-standing support the party extended to the Palestinian cause and said he looked forward to meeting new Labour leader Joseph Muscat.