PRESIDENT'S OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM

The President of Malta Prof. Guido de Marco and Mrs. de Marco this morning were received in a private audience with Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth, at Buckingham Palace. The President and Mrs. de Marco are in the United Kingdom on the first official visit by a Maltese head of state. This was remarked upon by the Queen during the audience.

In his comments after the audience, President de Marco said that Her Majesty expressed great interest in the developments taking place in Malta as well as in the negotiations which Malta is at the time persuing in the country's application to join the European Union. Queen Elizabeth conferred on the President the honorary knighthood of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, instituting him in the rank of Knight Grand Cross. President de Marco presented Her Majesty with the collar of the Order of Merit.

President de Marco earlier had talks with the secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs, Mr. Robin Cook. The relations between the two countries, said President de Marco have developed on a basis of genuine friendship, evolved over long years. In discussing Malta's negotiations to join the European Union, Mr. Cook said that his country would give its complete support. President de Marco refered to the letter which Prime Minister Tony Blair sent him the day before. The President and Mr. Cook exchanged views on the situation in the Mediterranean and also on the need for reform in the United Nations Security Council. These reforms will be the subject of the President's address at a round table-conference in Cambridge tomorrow.

In the afternoon, President de Marco addressd the members and distinguished guests of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House. His address was entitled : A strategy for the Mediterranean. Later he answered questions from the floor.

In the evening The President and Mrs. De Marco were the guests of Her Majesty's government at a dinner hosted by Baroness Scotland of Ashdal. Afterwards he attended a performance of "Swan Lake" by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.