PRESIDENT AND MRS DE MARCO VISIT SPAIN

President and Mrs. Guido de Marco this morning left for Spain, where they will be attending the fifth centenery celebrations since the birth of the Emperor Charles the Fifth. President and Mrs. de Marco were invited to attend these celebrations which will be held in Toledo, by His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain. Invitations for these commemorative celebrations were issued to those heads of state whose countries are associated with the reign of Emperor Charles the Fifth. Among those attending are the Heads of State of Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, The Netherlands, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Rhodes and Jerusalem, Hungary, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

The President and Mrs. de Marco will then proceed to Palma de Mallorca where Prof. de Marco will deliver a keynote speech at the Foro Formentor, organised by the Repsol Foundation. The President will address the participants on "Stability in the Mediterranean - a Maltese Perspective". This conference will also be addressed by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Guterres, by the Special Envoy form the European Union for the Peace Process in the Middle East, Miguel Angel Moratinos and by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Josep Pique. The Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will also be participating and hosting a dinner for all the participants.

The Repsol Foundation has a long tradition for organising meetings of a socio-political character to analyse particular situations and seek solutions to problems. The Foro Formentor, is being held for the second time, with the theme "Security in the Mediterranean", and its aim is to examine the problems of the Mediterranean as one whole region rather than in its bi-lateral relations. It intends also to explore possible solutions to problems.

From Palma de Mallorca, the President and Mrs. de Marco will pay a short visit to Valencia, where they will meet a community of Maltese descendants dating back to the 18^th century. During his stay the President will also meet the President of Valencia.