Malta's Ambassador to the United States of America

In a ceremony at the White House on 10^th August 1999, Mr. George Saliba presented his credentials to President William Jefferson Clinton as Malta's Ambassador to the United States of America.

In his speech to the President, Ambassador Saliba relayed the greetings from The President of Malta and the Government and people of Malta and referred to the history of Malta/US relations from the re-casting of the Liberty Bell to the Bush-Gorbachev Summit.

The Ambassador referred to issues related to the Mediterranean, to the positive role the US has been playing in the region and also of the Government's commitment to membership of the European Union with whom Malta shares the values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Ambassador Saliba also welcomed the deep bilateral relations between the two countries and augured that these will be further strengthened.

President Clinton, in his reply to the remarks by Ambassador Saliba, described the relationship between Malta and the United States as "increasingly productive" and that "the Maltese Government's determination to modernise its economy through market reforms and privatisation shows great foresight on the eve of the 21^st century". President Clinton remarked that, "Maltese democratic principles benefit the security of the entire region".