The Foreign Ministry held a concert in the courtyard of the ministry building today in memory of Polish President Lech Kaczyński, who died in a plane crash near Smolensk on April 10.

The Polish ambassador to Malta, Jerzy Chmielewski, who is resident in Rome and came to Malta for the purpose, was greeted by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.

The concert was organized by Reuben Gauci, a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with Stephen Parnis England, Hon Consul of Poland in Malta.

Those present included former Presidents, mebers of the Diplomatic Corps and Maltese diplomats.

The Concert consisted of piano music by Polish Composer Fryderyk Chopin, whose 200th birth centenary is being celebrated this year. The pianist was Joanne Camilleri.

An original composition named Impressions of Poland was played by pianist composer Norman Cristina.

Poems of famous Polish poets Juliusz Słowacki and Adam Mickiewicz were read to the audience in Maltese, Polish and English. A speech on Pope John Paul II and the Polish National Soul was delivered by Mr Dillon Bugeja.

Following conclusion speeches by Dr Tonio Borg and Mr Chmielewski , the minister presented the Polish Ambassador with a painting prepared during the concert by artist Mr Mark Schembri.