AMBASSADOR ERIC GERADA-AZZOPARDI PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS TO THE PRESIDENT OF FINLAND HE TARJA HALONEN

Ambassador Eric Gerada-Azzopardi presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of Finland, Her Excellency Ms Tarja Kaarina Halonen, on 1^st February 2001 at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.

During the accreditation ceremony, Ambassador Gerada-Azzopardi conveyed the cordial greetings of President Guido de Marco to the Finnish Head of State. President Halonen, who had previously served as Foreign Minister from 1995 until her election in 2000, reciprocated her personal best wishes to President de Marco and to the people of Malta.

In a private audience with the President, Ambassador Gerada-Azzopardi spoke of Malta's progress and expectations in the current EU accession meetings now taking place under the Swedish Presidency.

During his visit, Ambassador Gerada-Azzopardi held separate meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Erkki Tuomioja. Bilateral cooperation and Malta's EU accession process were among the topics discussed.