Statement received late this evening from the Maltese Presidential delegation in Bulgaria

MALTESE PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION IN SERIOUS CAR CRASH IN BULGARIA

At about 14:30 hrs of Wednesday 14^th March, the President of Malta Prof. Guido de Marco and the delegation were involved in a serious traffic accident while travelling to Sofia, the capital city of the Republic of Bulgaria, where the President is on a State Visit.

The driver of a truck coming from the opposite direction to the motorcade lost control of his vehicle, crashed into the Presidential car and subsequently hit other cars following before crashing into the side of the road. The car carrying members of the Bulgarian staff and the President of Malta's official photographer, Mr. Lino Arrigo Azzopardi was badly hit. Two persons, a member of the security team and the driver of the truck were possibly very seriously hurt. Later we were informed that one person had died as a result of his injuries.

Immediate action was taken by the Bulgarian authorities to ascertain that the injured received medical care and ambulances took those who were hurt to hospital. Mr. Arrigo Azzopardi was assisted by Malta's ambassador to Bulgaria Mr. John Lowell and by the consul Dr. Boris Boyanov.

Commenting after the incident, President de Marco said that the Bulgarian President Dr. Petar Stoyanov had called to enquire about the welfare of the Maltese delegation. He assured President de Marco that all concerned were receiving the best possible medical care. The President of Malta showed his appreciation at the concern which the President of Bulgaria showed and expressed his hope that those who were hurt recovered quickly. He confirmed that the programme would continue as planned but that the reception which was going to be given by the Maltese delegation this evening had been cancelled after consulting with the Bulgarian President.

President de Marco later addressed a distinguished audience at St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia University with a speech entitled "The United Nations – What future?" He also received the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Bulgaria Mrs. Nadezhda Mihaylova. President Stoyanov joined this meeting, informing President de Marco about the latest condition of the persons injured in the accident and that one of the Bulgarian drivers in the delegation had died. He also informed the President of Malta that Mr. Lino Arrigo Azzopardi was being transferred to the main hospital of Sofia. Throughout these meetings, the President was accompanied by Minister Louis Galea.

President Guido de Marco has been in touch with the Prime Minister Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami as well as with Mrs. Lino Arrigo Azzopardi in Malta.

President de Marco leaves Bulgaria tomorrow morning for the Republic of Slovenia