PRESIDENT DE MARCO STARTS OFFICIAL VISIT IN LONDON

The President of Malta, H.E. Prof. Guido de Marco and Mrs de Marco arrived in London yesterday morning on an official visit. The President said that official visits serve to highlight the relations between countries. Malta's relations with Britain, said the President, are healthy in the political, economic and social spheres. President de Marco also made reference to the Maltese Government's mandate to negotiate Malta's entry to the European Union. He said that Malta would pursue its relations with Britain as a working partner.

Referring to the situation in the Mediterranean, President de Marco added that this would be the subject of the address he will deliver at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House giving his views on A Strategy for the Mediterranean.

On their arrival in London, the President and Mrs de Marco were met by Lord Strabolgi, Lord-in-Waiting to H.M. The Queen, by Mr Graham Archer representing the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and by the British High Commissioner, Mr Howard Pearce, as well as by other high ranking officials.

Later, President de Marco had talks with the Lord Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Irvine of Lairg at the Palace of Westminster. They discussed the problems affecting law courts and delays in the law as well as the introduction of the European Convention for Human Rights into British domestic law.

President de Marco and the Lord Chancellor also shared views on human rights legislation. The European Convention for Human Rights was the first law piloted by Prof. Guido de Marco, then Minister for Justice, to be enacted in Parliament in the 1987 legislature. The President invited the Lord Chancellor to visit Malta.

Meanwhile, Mrs de Marco visited Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she was accompanied by Ms Sonia Millar, representing the Hospital. Mrs de Marco visited the three Maltese children who are at the moment undergoing medical treatment at this hospital. During her visit, Mrs de Marco presented them with some gifts.

In the evening, the President, accompanied by Mrs de Marco, met the Hon. Keith Vaz, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The President and Mrs de Marco were hosted to dinner by Her Majesty's Government at Lancaster House.