THE PRESIDENT'S ENGAGEMENTS

The President of Malta, Prof. Guido de Marco, received H.E. Mr Yehya Ibrahim El Ramlawy, Ambassador of Egypt, at San Anton Palace. President de Marco and Ambassador Ramlawy discussed the situation in the Middle East and Egypt's role in the region's politics.

The President received also H.E. Mr. Howard Pearce, the British High Commissioner to Malta, accompanied by Mr. Robert Gauci of the Royal British Legion and Mr. Charles Cilia of the President's Award (formerly known as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme). At the end of April this year, the Royal British Legion will be celebrating its 80^th Anniversary while the President's Award will be commemorating forty years since its institution. The British High Commissioner, Mr. Gauci and Mr Cilia informed the President of the activities which will be held to celebrate these two anniversaries.

The Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, Prof. Joe Pirotta and the Authority's Chief Executive, Dr. Kevin Aquilina were received by President Guido de Marco at San Anton Palace. They discussed with the President the evolving role of the MBA within the scenario of multi-media and cross media broadcasting.They informed the President that later on in the year, the Malta Broadcasting Authority will be hosting 35 regulatory authorities in broadcasting from 29 countries at the bi-annual meeting of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities. This organisation, set up on Malta's initiative in 1995, seeks to be a forum for informal discussion, exchange of views information on national and European broadcasting regulation.

The Mayor and councillors of Attard Local Council called on the President at San Anton Palace, the Palace itself being within the jurisdiction of the Council. The President and the councillors discussed the role of Local Councils. This was the last visit by Attard Local Council to the President as the Council will soon be dissolved pending the next Local Council Elections.