Foreign Minister George Vella has not denied the government will soon be appointing former Labour Party employees to ambassadorial posts around the world and said he saw nothing wrong in this.

Speaking during the launch of a booklet of guiding principles to be adopted by his ministry, Dr Vella defended political appointees, saying that  every government felt the need to put people they trusted in certain positions.

“This something also adopted by the US President who appoints people he trusts to ambassadorial posts,” he said.

Asked whether Labour Party employees or people close to it have the right qualifications to serve as Malta’s representatives abroad, Dr Vella said: “Qualifications are subjective and one needs to see their work at the end of their mandate in order to judge their performance.”

The ministry is  finalising a list of new ambassadors to be appointed by the new administration. It is understood it includes a number of Labour party employees, including Marisa Micallef Leyson and Ray Azzopardi.

As per tradition, ambassadors had to offer their resignation following the change of administration.

Most of them, including some career diplomats, have already been told they will be leaving their posts.

Dr Vella said Malta's guiding policies in foreign affairs were the pursuit of peace, stability, dialogue and cooperation, with particular attention to the Mediterranean dimension.   

Malta, he said, was also committed to being an active member within the EU institutions.

He also reiterated that Malta will have an embassy in Qatar.

The document will be available at www.mfa.gov.mt