THE PRESIDENT IS PRESENTED WITH A COPY OF "FORTRESS COLONY: THE FINAL ACT 1954-64" BY PROF. JOSEPH PIROTTA

The President of Malta Prof. Guido de Marco was presented with a copy of the publication entitled "Fortress Colony: The Final Act 1954-64" by Prof. Joseph Pirotta. This is the third volume in the series which traces the steps leading to Malta's acquisition of Independence.

President de Marco thanked Prof. Pirotta for his contribution to Maltese History. He spoke of the importance of such works not only in the scholarly field, but also as a means of remembering the past with accuracy. President de Marco said that when a nation knows about and studies its past, its identity will be strengthened.

Prof. Pirotta described the period discussed in the book as one of apparent constitutional calm since the Constitution had been suspended by the British Colonial Government. In reality, said Prof. Pirotta, the period was a turbulent one which saw a complete change of attitude by the British Colonial Government from scepticism at the feasiblity of Malta's Independence to agreement on this issue.

Mgr. Fortunato Mizzi, on behalf of the publishers, Moviment Azzjoni Socjali, said that this publication fulfilled part of the commitment of the movement towards the spreading of education.