THE PRESIDENT'S 69TH BIRTHDAY

H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta, tomorrow (Saturday 22^nd July) celebrates his 69^thbirthday.

Prof. de Marco was born in Valletta on 22^nd July 1931, the second child of the late Emanuele and Giovanna n'�e Raniolo. He was educated at St Joseph High School, St. Aloysius College and the University of Malta. He graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1952, in Philosophy, Economics and Italian and in 1955 as a Doctor of Laws. Since 1967 he has been a lecturer and later a Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Malta.

Prof. de Marco was first elected in the interests of the Nationalist Party to the House of Representatives in April 1966 and has been returned to Parliament at every General Election. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Internal Affairs from 1987 to 1990 when he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, an office he held until the October 1996 general elections. He was re-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1998 and held that office until his election as President of Malta on 4^th April 1999. In September 1990 Prof. de Marco was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly (45^th Session).

He is married to Violet n'�e Saliba. They have a son, Mario and two daughters, Gianella and Fiorella, all members of the legal profession.