OPR- Tuesday, 26th October, 2004

The President of Malta, His Exellency Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, initiated his visit in Portugal, with a meeting with Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio.

The President of Portugal congratulated Dr. Fenech Adami on Malta’s EU membership and said that this is the ideal time for the two countries to strengthen their relations. President Fenech Adami thanked him for the support successive Portuguese governments gave Malta in the process of its entry into the union. The two Presidents discussed the challenges and opportunities an enlarged EU presents.

With Maltese investment in Portugal resulting in the opening of the hotel Corinthia Alfa in Lisbon, President Edward Fenech Adami said he hopes this will be the first in a series of such investments between the two countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo and Portuguese Ambassador for Malta Salvino Busuttil accompanied the President during these talks.

In the evening President Fenech Adami accompanied by Mrs. Fenech Adami inaugurated the Corinthia Alfa  Hotel in Lisbon. During a short speech Dr. Fenech Adami highlighted the importance of the project and said that this was a success for Maltese entrepreneurship.