PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER Speaker Carmelo Abela receives the ambassadors of Slovenia and Türkiye

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Carmelo Abela, received separate courtesy visits from Mr Matjaž Longar, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Malta, and Mr Barkın Kayaoğlu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Malta.

During the meetings, Speaker Abela reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and highlighted the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in fostering closer cooperation and mutual understanding among nations.

The meeting with Ambassador Longar provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong and friendly relations between Malta and Slovenia, both members of the European Union and like-minded partners on a wide range of international and European issues. Speaker Abela welcomed the excellent cooperation existing between the two countries and noted the importance of maintaining close dialogue on matters of common interest, particularly within the European Union, the Mediterranean region, and multilateral institutions. The discussion also addressed prospects for enhanced cooperation in trade, tourism, education, culture, and parliamentary exchanges.

During his meeting with Ambassador Kayaoğlu, Speaker Abela highlighted the long friendship between Malta and Türkiye, which spans almost six decades. He welcomed the renewed momentum in their bilateral relations. This is shown by growing political dialogue, expanding economic ties, more parliamentary engagement, and stronger cooperation in education, culture, maritime affairs, and tourism.

Speaker Abela noted the establishment of the Malta–Türkiye Parliamentary Friendship Group in August 2025 as an important milestone in strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and expressed his hope for increased exchanges between the two legislatures. He also welcomed the recent signing of Memoranda of Understanding in the fields of education, higher education, youth, and sport, describing these initiatives as significant steps towards further deepening people-to-people relations.

The discussion also focused on regional and international developments. These included the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Ukraine. Speaker Abela reiterated Malta’s belief in dialogue and diplomacy as essential for peace, stability, and security. He also acknowledged Türkiye’s important role in the region.

Speaker Abela also emphasised the considerable potential for further expanding economic cooperation between Malta and Türkiye, particularly in trade, investment, maritime services, connectivity, and tourism. He welcomed ongoing discussions aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and improving transport links, recognising their importance in fostering greater economic and people-to-people exchanges.

In both meetings, Speaker Abela reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ commitment to further strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and enhancing cooperation with partner countries in support of peace, stability, prosperity, and mutual understanding.