Maltese foreign minister urges strengthened EU-LAS dialogue

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela stressed the need to further strengthen the Euro-Arab dialogue while attending the Fifth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the European Union (EU) and the League of Arab States (LAS) in Brussels, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion on Monday.

During what the foreign minister dubbed as a “timely meeting is an opportune moment”, the official emphasised that Malta attaches particular importance towards the ongoing dialogue between the EU and the LAS. Minister Abela also mentioned the importance of the European Commission – League of Arab States Liaison Office (ECLASLO), hosted by Malta since 2009, which he tagged as “one of the most tangible aspects of cooperation between the two blocs”.

The ministerial meeting was held as a preliminary meeting before the EU-LAS Summit, which is scheduled to be held between 24-25 February 2019 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, according to the press statement by the foreign ministry. On the margins of the ministerial meeting, Minister Abela also held bilateral talks with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Discussions focused upon regional as well as bilateral issues, the press statement adds.