The President receives diplomatic credentials from new heads of mission

Three new diplomatic heads of mission presented their diplomatic credentials to President of Malta George Vella at Sant’Anton Palace today.

The Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Khaled Mohamed Sameh Anis, was the first to present his letters of credence to President George Vella.

President Vella referred to the excellent bilateral relations between Malta and Egypt and converging regional and international interests. Malta views Egypt as a crucial regional actor, particularly in terms of the EU’s southern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the Arab world more broadly. President Vella and Ambassador Anis moved on to discuss issues of mutual importance to the two countries particularly stability in the Middle East, latest developments in Libya, and migration.

Next to present the letters of credence was the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, Tasia Athanasiou. President Vella and Ambassador Athanasiou discussed the two countries’ position on important EU dossiers such as the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Asylum and Migration Pact and the Recovery and Resilience Plan. On migration in particular, the two countries continue to request tangible and visible solidarity from other partners.

The third to present the letters of credence was José María Muriel Palomino, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain. President Vella and the Ambassador agreed that both countries share a substantial EU common agenda based on promoting the EU fundamental values, as well as converging regional interests in the Mediterranean. On the issue of migration, President Vella observed that Malta remains concerned by the migratory pressure from the Central Mediterranean Route, with the significant increase of arrivals in 2020 and 2021.

During a luncheon with the new heads of mission, the President of Malta encouraged them all to continue the dialogue on various levels and ensure that the needs of our region are discussed and given due attention on the global agenda.