The separation of powers between Church and State was “plain and unquestionable”, Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella said.
Speaking last night during a public consultation meeting in the series dubbed A Government That Listens, he referred to the agreement signed last month between the government and the Church, as a result of which the Ecclesiastical Tribunal would no longer have final say over the Maltese courts in cases related to marriage annulment.
“The government should respect the Church and vice-versa ,but the separation of powers between the two is plain and unquestionable,” he said.
In a quiet meeting with very little interventions from the floor, Dr Vella outlined the work undertaken by his ministry since it was pointed out that a large number of Maltese had admitted they did not quite know what sort of work the ministry did.
“We don’t open roads or hand out benefits. Our work is largely invisible. We’re the facilitators. We create, maintain and strengthen diplomatic relations with other countries, which open the way to investment, commerce and tourism,” he said.
Speaking on the turbulent situation in Libya, he said Malta maintained very good relations with the country. Malta was interested in seeing Libya become stronger both for commercial reasons but also to ensure better border control and so manage irregular migration.
Dr Vella said he advocated a greater European presence in Libya.
Malta’s diplomatic relations with the US were very good, he said, adding that the US demonstrated great confidence in Malta when it sited the International Institute on Justice and the Rule of Law on the island.
The number of migrants who went to the US from Malta was double the total accepted by all EU member states, he pointed out.
There were a few hitches in relations with Russia but things were generally positive.
Problems regarding child adoption and civil unions had been ironed out after the government reminded Russia that the country of origin still had the final say on whether to approve or disprove each adoption case.
Adoptions could therefore continue to be decided on a case by case basis, he said.
On Malta’s sound relations with China, Dr Vella said a consulate would be opened in Shanghai shortly.