Malta could host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2015 after Mauritius pulled out of the organisation.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Malta would bide time for Commonwealth to reach a consensus, and that Malta’s offer was made to provide peace of mind to other countries.
After Mauritius pulled out of CHOGM 2015, a number of countries were asked by the Commonwealth Secretariat if they would be available to host the bi-annual international event. Malta said that it was prepared to host it if there was no agreement on a country that had never hosted the event. Several countries, such as the UK, are backing Malta’s position.
This development happened during the retreat of heads of government retreat in Sri Lanka. Malta had hosted CHOGM in 2005.
Dr Muscat yesterday recalled Malta’s links with the Royal Family. Addressing Prince Charles, who opened CHOGM this year in the absence of Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Minister said: “I should say to your Royal Highness that your own grandfather has a special place in the hearts of the Maltese. It was he who awarded the George Cross for bravery to our island in the darks hours of the Second World War. Later, your parents, the then Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, were to begin their married life living in Malta.”
The Prime Minister spoke of the Commonwealth as a unifying factor among a family of nations when he spoke at an event forming part of the heads of government summit.
“If the United Nations is the father of the modern world, I think we can describe the Commonwealth as – and I hope your Royal Highness will excuse me for introducing this term – the grandfather.
“By George there’s nothing wrong with being a grandfather – being respected for your wisdom, experience and achievements,” Dr Muscat told the Prince of Wales in a reference to his newborn grandson George.
Dr Muscat also attended the heads of governments’ traditional retreat where he had talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron and new Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.