Over 650 Maltese resort to overseas embassies

Over 650 Maltese people needed the assistance of the country's embassies abroad so far this year, statistics released by the Foreign Affairs Ministry show.

Furthermore, nearly 1,800 Maltese who work overseas made use of the 22 embassies abroad up till September, according to the ministry.

The large majority, 450, contacted the High Commission in London.

Several of the queries were related to petty theft or to ask for help with documentation, but some embassies have had to assist with more serious matters.

The Washington embassy, for example, dealt with cases of domestic abuse, while the Athens office was involved in the case of Doujon Zammit, the young Australian-Maltese who was murdered on the Greek island of Mykonos.

In the meantime, the Canberra embassy was kept busy at one point dealing with the case of a young man who went to New Zealand and failed to contact his family. He was later found to be enjoying himself in Queenstown.

Malta plans to open an embassy in Tel Aviv soon.