THE PRESIDENT IN BARCELONA

THE PRESIDENT IN BARCELONA

H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta, left Barcelona this evening en route for Strasbourg after delivering the keynote address at the conference "The United Nations in the 21^st Century" organised by the United Nations Association of Spain.

The conference, which was presided over by the President of the Catalan Parliament Mr Joan Rigol i Roig, was attended by leading Spanish intellectuals, economists and academics. The President of the United Nations Association of Spain Mr Luis Armett welcomed Prof. de Marco as "an authority on the United Nations".

During his brief stay in Barcelona, Prof. de Marco was hosted at the residence of the President of the Catalan Government Jordi Pujol. The President met Mr Pujol this afternoon at his office in the Palau de la Generalitat were they discussed relations between Malta and Catalonia, the most prosperous region in Spain, in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean process. Discussions also centred on how ties between Malta and Catalonia can be more fruitful and useful through the further development of commercial, political and cultural exchanges. The President also spoke about Malta's economic structure in particular the dockyard, the Freeport, tourism and industry.

These issues were also discussed during the President's meeting with the Mayor of Barcelona Mr Joan Clos i Matheu at the Palace of the City Council.

Tomorrow (Tuesday 27^th June 2000) the President will be in Strasbourg where he will address the third part session of the 2000 Ordinary Session of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. Prof. de Marco will also have meetings with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Lord Russell-Johnston, the secretary general of the Council of Europe Mr Walter Schwimmer and the President of the European Court of Human Rights Mr Luzius Wildhaber.

The President will also hold talks with the President of the Republic of Macedonia Boris Trajkovski and the chairman of Bulgaria's parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.

The President returns to Malta on Wednesday 28^th June 2000.