Maltese Foreign Minister in more bilateral meetings in New York

Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg yesterday continued his bilateral meetings on the fringe of the 54th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Dr. Borg had meetings with representatives of Finland, Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Egypt, Tunisia, The League of Arab States and Singapore.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Joe Borg met Mr. Jukka Valtasaari, Secretary of State of Finland, the current Presidency in Office of the European Union. The Secretary of State said that it would be difficult to find a reason to prevent Malta from being invited to commence negotiations at the Helsinki Summit; a summit which he described as an "Enlargement Summit". Mr. Valtasaari reiterated his country's belief that the applicants most prepared for accession at the time of enlargement should be the ones making up the first wave of new EU members.

The Greek Foreign Minister Mr. George Papandreou reiterated his country's support for Malta's accession to the European Union, stating further that "Malta can quite easily catch up with the first group of applicants". Mr. Papandreou offered to extend to Malta the same technical assistance in regard to EU accession negotiations that Greece has been giving to Cyprus. On a bilateral level the Ministers discussed the imminent conclusion of a Double Taxation Agreement between the two countries.

In a further Meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister Mr. Said Ben Mustapha, Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg stated that the EU recognises that Malta's membership within the European Union would sharpen the sensitivity of the Union to Mediterranean issues. Both Ministers also discussed the Association Agreement that Tunisia has with the European Union. The possibility of concluding a bilateral trade agreement on the same model as the Association Agreement was also discussed. Ministers Borg and Mustapha also discussed the work and agenda of the Maltese Tunisian Mixed Commission which is expected to meet again early next year, to discuss further improvement in trade relations and other sectors between the two countries.

The Maltese Foreign Minister also met the Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs of Singapore Prof. S. Jayakumar. The Ministers expressed satisfaction that the Double Taxation Agreement between the two countries will be ready for signature in the near future. Ministers Borg and Jayakumar also agreed to visit each other's countries accompanied by economic delegations from the private sector.

In a meeting with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States Dr. Ahmed Ezmat Abdel Meguid, Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg proposed that by agreement with the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could make available two scholarships for the Masters Degree in Diplomacy of the Academy to students selected by the League of Arab States. Dr. Meguid thanked the Minister for the offer. He expressed his appreciation for the strong role that Malta plays in the Mediterranean region and the excellent relations it has with its Arab neighbours. On Malta's policy for EU membership, Dr Meguid said that the League very much welcomed this policy and expressed the hope that membership will be realised "as soon as possible".

Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg also met his Slovenian counterpart Dr. Boris Frlec. Minister Borg updated the Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs on the latest position achieved by Malta in its accession process. Minister Frlec stated that as small countries Malta and Slovenia should consult closely and regularly together in their EU accession process.

A further meeting was held between Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mr. Amre Moussa. Minister Borg described the state of play of Malta's EU accession process and the programme of reforms being undertaken in preparation for membership. Commenting on Malta's accession to the European Union Minister Moussa said, " I believe this would be a good addition that would strengthen the voice of the Mediterranean in the EU". "Your presence in the European Union will be a strong voice for us", he concluded.

Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg also met the Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen whom he briefed on the screening process currently underway between Malta and the EU. Minister Borg expressed the hope that Malta willbe able to catch up with the applicants already negotiating membership of the European Union. "You will be able to catch up, I have no doubt about that", Minister Petersen said. Minister Borg discussed the efforts being made by government to bring Malta in line with the EU's acquis although he explained that Malta would be seeking to negotiate transitional periods or special arrangements in certain specific areas where considered necessary.