THE PRESIDENT RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVES OF A GROUP OF REFUGEES LEAVING FOR CANADA

President Guido de Marco this morning received representatives of a group of about eighty refugees , presently living in Malta and soon to leave for Canada. The majority of these refugees are of Iraqi and Palestinian origin but there were also Algerian, Tunisian, Sudanese, Somali and Sierra Leonese anong those bidding farewell to the President at the Palace in Valletta. The group was led by the Archbishop's delegate for Emigrants, Mons. Philip Calleja and by the representative of UNHCR in Malta, Mr. Charles Buttigieg.

President de Marco thanked the Emigrants' Commission and the UNHCR office in Malta for the co-operation which these have always shown in their dealings with the state authorities. He reflected on the harshness of the reality which refugees face - that when they realise that their country cannot offer them any prospects for the future. President de Marco encouraged them to work hard to make their dreams come true in the new future awaiting them.

The refugees responded warmly to the President's greetings, commenting on the warm hearted generosity displayed towards them by the Maltese People. Among those present were children of the refugees born during their stay in Malta.