THE PRESIDENT OF MALTA, H.E. PROF. GUIDO DE MARCO, RECEIVES THE FIRST DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The President of Malta, Prof Guido de Marco, this morning received the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mr. Alexander Avdeyev, at The Palace, Valletta. Mr. Avdeyev said that he brought to Malta the warmest greetings of President Putin and of the Russian people.

President de Marco referred to the good relations existing between Malta and the Russian Federation. President de Marco spoke of the Bush Gorbachev meeting held in Malta in December 1989. This was an event which in the words of Eduard Shevardnadze, "buried the Cold War". This is the reality within which countries have to operate today. There is no return to the past. President de Marco said that this has given rise to a new concept of Europe and the emergence of a new global relationship.

Mr. Avdeyev was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergey S. Zotov.