Diplomacy or the negotiating table is what the Foreign Ministry usually resorts to when things get out of hand, but a dispute over two balconies forced it to seek litigation.

In 2001, George Camenzuli was contracted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to repair two balconies in Palazzo Parisio, Merchants Street, Valletta, where the ministry is housed.

The repairs had to be completed by August 2001 but works had not even started by November of that year.

In March 2002, Mr Camenzuli removed parts of the balconies to start the repairs but, although he was bound to replace them by the end of that month, against a daily penalty of €23.29, he did not complete the job and also failed to replace the parts he had removed.

The permanent secretary at the ministry sued him and also Peter Camilleri & Sons Limited, which had supplied Mr Camenzuli with materials and had been paid.

The company was cleared of all responsibility.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco concluded that it was clear that Mr Camenzuli had not completed the job within the stipulated period.

The court dismissed Mr Camenzuli’s claim that the action against him was barred by the passage of time and declared him to be in default.

The case was put off for continuation and for submissions on damages due by Mr Camenzuli.