King Juan Carlos I of Spain arrived in Malta yesterday afternoon for a whirlwind state visit that started off with a formal welcome ceremony at the airport.
The monarch, who has been reigning since November 22, 1975, was meant to be accompanied by his wife Queen Sofía, but she cancelled her trip at the 11th hour because she was indisposed.
He was greeted by President George Abela, on whose invitation he is visiting, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the House, ministers, parliamentary secretaries, the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries.
On the runway, King Juan Carlos I was given a national salute by the Guard of Honour, which he then inspected before being driven off to the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana.
Honorary membership of the National Order of Merit in the Grade of Companion of Honour with Collar was conferred upon him by the President at the Palace in the evening, where he attended a state concert and dinner.
In his address, Dr Abela expressed his confidence that the upcoming Spanish EU presidency would prioritise the common problem of the fight against illegal immigration. Highlighting Malta's heavy burden - "totally out of proportion to our territorial dimensions" - he said it was the collective responsibility of all member states and should be shared more effectively. Dr Abela also spoke about exploring the possibility of creating an inter-parliamentary committee aimed at sharing opinions on the environment, migration and bioethical issues.
The President augured that ways of achieving a more positive balance in trade flows between the countries would be found. Exports from Malta to Spain averaged only about 10 per cent of imports from Spain to Malta. The King of Spain also conferred the Collar of the Order of Isabel la Catolica on Dr Abela.
Earlier on, the Gran Cruz of the Order of Isabel la Catolica was bestowed on President Emeritus Guido de Marco and former Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo at the Grand Hotel Excelsior by Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaubé.
A Spanish civil order, created in 1815 by King Ferdinand VII of Spain in honour of Queen Isabella, it is granted in recognition of services that benefit the country and many foreigners have received it.
Among today's events, the Spanish monarch is calling on Dr Abela at the Palace in Valletta. He will also be attending a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Floriana, after which he will meet Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. Today King Juan Carlos meets the Prime Minister at Castille, followed by a reception and a visit to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta. Six agreements will be signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and his Spanish counterpart this morning.
The agreements
• A Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Malta-Spain joint committee on merchant shipping, addressing the possibility for cooperation on maritime affairs and research, training in maritime transport and safety, and protection of the maritime environment, among others.
• Cooperation between the Spanish Diplomatic School and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (Medac) to offer benefits for training diplomats from both countries.
• A cooperation programme in the areas of culture, education and science for 2009-2012.
• A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in cultural heritage, involving the exchange of specialists and information.
• A Memorandum of Understanding on archives.
• An exchange programme for language assistants.