Malta assumed presidency of the 5+5 Defence Western Mediterranean Initiative during a meeting in Tripoli yesterday.
Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici promised the meeting that Malta would continue building on the success achieved so far.
The group was formally established in December 2004 by the signing of a declaration of intent by the defence ministers of Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia and provides the only all encompassing multi-lateral forum for defence and security matters for the Western Mediterranean. It aims to encourage dialogue and cooperation between the participating states.