New Ambassadors pay courtesy calls on the Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Anton Tabone, received a courtesy visit by His Excellency Mr Fabio Valencia Cossio, the newly appointed Ambassador for the Republic of Colombia.

The Ambassador gave Mr Speaker a brief overview of his country's history and highlighted current issues prevailing on the political scene. The Speaker and the Ambassador exchanged views on the functions of the respective parliaments of Malta and Colombia, as well as the possibility of establishing parliamentary contacts which would develop parliamentary cooperation.

Mr Speaker augured that with the Ambassador's recent appointment relations between Malta and Colombia would be further enhanced. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr Albert Rutter the Maltese Consul responsible for the Republic of Colombia.

The Speaker received also His Excellency Mr Alfons Kloss, the newly appointed Ambassador for Austria, who was accompanied by Mr Michael Bianchi - the newly appointed Consul for Austria.

The Speaker and the Ambassador discussed matters relating to their respective parliaments and exchanged information on developments in course on the parliamentary scene. The Speaker expressed interest in finding new avenues to establish a more concrete manner in which parliamentary cooperation between Malta and Austria could be realised.

Mr Speaker wished the new Ambassador every success in his new diplomatic mission and conveyed his best wishes to Mr Fischer, the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament.