L-AMBAXXATUR IL-GDID TA? MALTA GHAR-REPUBBLIKA TA? L-ALBANIJA JIPPREZENTA L-KREDENZJALI TIEGHU

Nhar it-22 ta' Frar 2000, Dott. Joseph Cassar ipprezenta l-kredenzjali tieghu bhala l-Ambaxxatur il-gdid ta' Malta ghar-Repubblika ta' l-Albanija lill-Eccellenza Tieghu l-President ta' l-Albanija, Rexhep Meidani. Ic-cerimonja saret fil-Palazz Presidenzjali fil-prezenza tal-Vici Ministru ghall-Affarijiet Barranin responsabbli ghall-affarijiet Ewro-Atlantici u integrazzjoni ta' l-Unjoni Ewropea, Ben Blushi kif ukoll il-Kap tal-Protokol, Dott. Arben Cici.

Fid-diskussjoni li saret waqt ic-cerimonja tal-prezentazzjoni, il-President Meidani esprima s-sentimenti pozittivi tieghu ghat-tislima ta' l-awtoritajiet Maltin u fakkar, b'mod partikulari l-generosita` tal-poplu Malti lejn l-Albanija matul il-krizi interna illi ghadda minnha l-pajjiz ftit snin ilu. L-Ambaxxatur Cassar stqarr illi kien ghad hemm kommunitajiet Maltin go l-Albanija illi kienu qeghdin iwettqu xoghol importanti ta' volontarjat, bhal komunita` ta' patrijiet Dumnikani gol-villagg ta' Sukth Kathunde filwaqt illi l-agenzija Maltija, SOS Albania, kienet waqqfet il-kullegg Preca gol-belt ta' Korce. Dan il-kullegg huwa amministrat minn Maltin membri tal-MUSEUM. Il-kapillan tal-belt kien ukoll Malti bi knisja mibnija b'fondi Maltin waqt illi l-Malta Hospice Movement kien qed ihaddem klinika ghall-persuni b'mard terminali.

Matul iz-zjara tieghu, l-Ambaxxatur Cassar ltaqa' ma' dawn il-kommunitajiet Maltin u zar ukoll il-knisja Maltija go Korce. Hu kellu wkoll tahdidiet mal-Prefett u s-Sindku tal-belt illi tennew il-gratitudni ghall-assistenza pprovduta mill-poplu Malti partikolarment fit-twaqqif tal-kullegg Preca u ghall-fondi minn Malta illi kienu qeghdin iservu biex jitqabbdu l-ghalliema u ghax-xiri ta' materjal ta' taghlim ghall-istudenti.

L-Ambaxxatur Cassar ltaqa' wkoll mal-Prim Ministru Albaniz, Ilir Meta, il-Ministru ghall-Affarijiet Barranin, Paskal Milo, il-Ministru tal-Kultura, Edi Rama, il-Vici Ministru ghall-Affarijiet Barranin responabbli ghall-affarijiet Ewro-Atlantici u integrazzjoni ta' l-Unjoni Ewropea, Ben Blushi, il-kap tal-Kumitat Parlamentari ghall-Affarijiet Barranin, Sabri Godo u l-iSpeaker Skender Gjinushi. Dawn il-personalitajiet hadu l-opportunita` illi jfakkru x-xoghol siewi mwettaq bil-generosita` u solidarjeta` tal-poplu Malti lejn l-Albanija f'sitwazzjonijiet ta' bzonn.

___________

On 22 February 2000, Dr Joseph Cassar presented his credentials as the new Ambassador of Malta to the Republic of Albania to His Excellency The President of Albania, Mr Rexhep Meidani. The ceremony took place in the Presidential Palace in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for Euro-Atlantic and EU integration matters, Mr Ben Blushi and Head of Protocol, Dr Arben Cici.

In a short exchange of views, during the presentation ceremony, President Meidani expressed his warm feelings towards the greetings of the Maltese authorities, recalling in particular the generosity of the Maltese people towards Albania during the country's internal crisis a few years back. Ambassador Cassar informed that Maltese communities continued to do valuable charitable voluntary work in Albania, such as the Dominican Friars in the village of Sukth Kathunde and the Maltese organisation, SOS Albania, which had set up Preca College in Korca. The college is administered by Maltese MUSEUM members. A Maltese parish priest was also running a Catholic church in Korce built out of the funds supplied by the Maltese people while the Malta Hospice Movement was supporting a clinic for persons with terminal illnesses.

During his visit, Ambassador Cassar met both of these communities and visited the Maltese church in Korce. He also had talks with the Prefect and Mayor of the city who expressed their thanks for the assistance provided by the Maltese people especially in setting up Preca College and for the funds from Malta which supported the teaching staff and purchase of materials for the students.

During his visit, Dr Cassar also had meetings with the Albanian Prime Minister, Mr Ilir Meta, the Foreign Minister, Mr Paskal Milo, the Minister of Culture, Mr Edi Rama, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for Euro-Atlantic and EU integration matters, Mr Ben Blushi, the Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Mr Sabri Godo and the Speaker, Mr Skender Gjinushi. These personalities took the opportunity to reaffirm their gratitude for Maltese generosity and solidarity in times of need with the Albanian people.