OPR- Tuesday, 18th January, 2005

The President of Malta, H.E. Dr. Edward Fenech Adami today met the President the Czech Republic H.E. Vaclav Klaus. The meeting was one of a number of meetings that the President had during the state visit in the Czech Republic. During the meeting, both Presidents discussed matters of common interests between the two countries.

President Vaclav Klaus said that the Czech Republic is very interested in the rich and dynamic contacts with Malta in all fields, being they economic, trade or cultural. President Klaus commented that the EU accession has given a new dimension to the relations between the two countries.  The President said that they have discussed the fact that although they are both small countries within the European Union they do have similarities and common interests and that they should work together within the EU for their mutual benefit. The Czech President also remarked that this visit should help to consolidate the bilateral relations between the two countries.

On his part President Fenech Adami also referred to the similarities that exist between the two countries saying that EU accession last year was of significant importance to both countries. The President of Malta said that it was interesting how the respective countries were looking at the EU before accession and now both countries have joined the EU. The President said that both countries agreed that they want to make the best they can from the European Union. President Fenech Adami referring to its sovereignty remarked that Malta was prepared to share part of it  in order to make its voice heard both within the European Union and the international front and rather than being simply on the receptive end Malta can play a role in policy making.

On the process of the ratification of the European constitutional treaty, President Fenech Adami remarked that the introduction of the European Foreign Minister is a positive step in the right direction in EU Foreign Policy making as that will allow the EU to speak with one voice.

At the end of these official talks a “Cultural Programme 2005/2007” was signed by the Minister for Investment, Industry and Information Technology, the Hon. Austin Gatt signed and Mrs. Petra Buzkova, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports.

The President later met and had lunch with the Chairman of the Senate, Preimysl Sobotka and later was received by the Lord Mayor of Prague, Mr. Pavel Bem. In the Afternoon, the President met the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, Mr. Lubomir Zaorálek. This meeting was followed by a meeting at the Lichtenstein Palace with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mr. Stanislav Gross.

The last meeting of the day was with His Eminence Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop of Prague who called on the President. During the day the President of Malta visited areas of cultural interest like St. Vit Cathedral, Charles Bridge and Old Town Hall. During this visit the President is being accompanied by Mrs. Fenech Adami.

Earlier in the afternoon, a business meeting for Czech entrepreneurs was addressed by the Hon. Austin Gatt, Mr. Joseph Zammit Tabona, by Chairman of Malta Enterprise and Mr. Chris Grech, Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority. Maltese entrepreneurs who had the opportunity to meet with Czech entrepreneurs during this meeting described this meeting as a very fruitful.