THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER MEETS A GROUP OF ITALIAN AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS

On the 7^th September 2000, a group of Italian aviation enthusiasts from the Associazione Sportiva Sottovento, flying light aircraft and accompanied by a helicopter, will be arriving in Malta as part of the tour of the Mediterranean that is being attempted by them. The aim is to create awareness in favour of peace by requesting dignitaries of a number of Mediterranean states to sign a declaration in favour of peace. The countries, in destination order, which are to be visited are: Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Egypt, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, France and, of course, Italy.

Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, will meet the group on the 8^th September in order to sign the declaration on behalf of Malta.

The aviators will be accompanied by a TG2 journalist and cameraman who will be filming aspects of the 8^th September celebrations during the course of their stop over in Malta.

Assistance is also being given by the Armed Forces of Malta, the Malta International Airport, as well as the Department of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Transport. The airplanes will be departing on the 9^th September