The importance of values was stressed this evening by President George Abela as he launched this year’s edition of Milied Flimkien at the Palace Courtyard in Valletta.

Speaking to a sizeable crowd who braved the bitter cold to listen and enjoy the variety of events, Dr Abela said that although one might see traditional values as being old fashioned, they were as relevant now as in the past.

These values, he said, could be traced back to Christmas, which was the foundation of society.

One of the first values one learnt through the nativity story was that of the family. Children were raised in a family and it was there that they found stability.

“The value of the family is relevant to this day,” he said.

Dr Abela also stressed the importance of peace and goodwill pointing out that Maltese society was used to living in tranquillity and it did not deserve people who took the law into their hands and committed crimes.

Archbishop Paul Cremona said that there were a lot of lessons to be learnt from the nativity scene.

One was that the parents should be focused on their children and not on other distractions.

“Leave time for your children so that you’ll have a personal relationship with them,” he advised parents.

He invited them to give their children a daily family hug.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the best resolution one could make was during in favour of the family.

Families, especially those going through hard times, had to be taken care of. He thanked Opposition leader Joseph Muscat for all his work in opposition and the Archbishop for keeping up the values.

Dr Muscat thanked President Abela recalling that this was his first appearance at the launch of l-Istrina, since last year he had been unwell.

He expressed solidarity with victims of crime and spoke on the importance of finding a balance.