LM5 MILLION IN ITALIAN FINANCIAL AID TO MALTA

On 29 March, 2000, Italy and Malta signed an agreement providing for the transfer of over LM 5 million in Italian financial aid to Malta. The grant has been made available under the IV Italo-Maltese Protocol on Financial, Economic and Technical Assistance.

Italian Foreign Ministry Secretary-General, Umberto Vattani and Maltese Ambassador Joseph Cassar signed the said agreement, on behalf of Italy and Malta respectively at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.

Before the signing, Secretary-General Vattani said that this act brings to an appropriate conclusion an important aspect of the IV Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol. Referring to his recent visit to Malta, he spoke of his fruitful meetings with President Guido de Marco, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and Foreign Minister Joe Borg. The Secretary General expressed his conviction that future Italo-Maltese relations would continue to be strengthened through the conclusion of a new Financial Protocol and Malta's aspired membership of the European Union.

Conveying the Maltese Government's appreciation, Ambassador Cassar said that this aid was a tangible reflection of the excellent relations and the close co-operation between the two countries. Projects established in Malta during the past twenty years under the four Italo-Maltese Financial Protocols were and continue to be of great public utility.

Ambassador Cassar stated that the Maltese Government looked forward to the successful conclusion of negotiations on the new V Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol. This will be of great contribution during the transition period leading to Malta's membership of the European Union.