FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS SPANISH COUNTERPART

This morning the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Joe Borg, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, H.E. Joseph Piqu'? i Camps at Palacio de Viana in Madrid. During the meeting the main points of discussion were Malta's progress towards EU accession and bilateral relations between the two countries. The Spanish Foreign Minister reiterated Spain's support for Malta's accession to the Union in the first enlargement and indicated the possibility of the provision of Spanish technical assistance for Malta during the accession phase.

On the bilateral front the two Ministers discussed means of strengthening co-operation in the economic and cultural spheres including through the finalization of certain pending bilateral agreements. The Ministers also exchanged views about recent developments in the Mediterranean region.

While in Madrid, Minister Joe Borg also met with Mrs Isabel Tocino, President of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Congress.

Minister Borg returns to Malta on Wednesday.