Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has expressed his country’s gratitude to Malta for assistance given to the victims of the recent earthquake in Abruzzo.

In a letter to Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, he also thanked Malta for its condolences over the loss of life.

Mr Frattini said such expressions of sincere friendship confirmed the solid links which existed between the two countries.

The letter was conveyed by Italian Ambassador Paolo Andrea Trabalza, who also thanked the Malta Civil Protection Department and the Malta Red Cross for their offers of assistance.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and his Italian counterpart, Roberto Maroni, will meet in Brussels later today to discuss the recent impasse between the two countries on illegal immigration.

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