OPR- Thursday, 2nd June, 2005

Your Excellency,

Hon. Prime Minister,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure to welcome you, Excellency, and your delegation to Malta.

Malta and Tunisia share a strong affinity embedded in the shared history and geography of our countries.  In Malta, you have identified some of the cultural roots that bind our peoples. Both countries have come a long way from their political independence.  Through statehood, Malta and Tunisia, located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean basin, actively pursued a policy to enhance regional peace and stability.

Your Excellency,

In their own way, Malta and Tunisia have continually strived to promote the aspirations of the peoples of the Mediterranean in international fora, such as the United Nations and its agencies, as well as in regional diplomatic conferences, such as, the Euro-Mediterranean (Barcelona) Partnership, the Mediterranean Forum, and the Conference of the Western Mediterranean Countries, also referred to as the Five-Plus-Five Initiative.

I stress Malta’s belief in the ‘centrality’ of the Euro-Mediterranean (Barcelona) Partnership as far as the EU’s policy for the Mediterranean is concerned.  With this year being the Tenth Anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean (Barcelona) Partnership, Malta hopes that the Summit scheduled in Barcelona this November would focus on tangible deliverables so as to bring about a real partnership. This implies enhancing the Partnership to enable it to address the economic, social and humanitarian, as well as security issues that countries in the Mediterranean are facing in the contemporary situation.

I note with satisfaction the gradual implementation of the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement.  Malta welcomes the commencement of the dismantling of the trade barriers which will lead to a full EU-Mediterranean Free Trade Area, hopefully by 2010.  No doubt, the progressive liberalization of trade flows will lead to greater prosperity for the peoples of the Mediterranean basin.

Malta also welcomes the fact that Tunisia was amongst the first countries to have concluded an Action Plan within the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy.   This policy offers EU partner countries an increasingly comprehensive relationship with the EU based upon economic integration and deepened political cooperation. 

Malta, as a member of the European Union, is in an enhanced position to play its role as a valid interlocutor for Mediterranean Affairs.  We very much welcome the idea that partners can progress at their own pace without being held down by limits or parameters in areas of cooperation.   Malta has consistently supported Tunisia’s requests during the negotiations of its Action Plan and will assist in its implementation.

Whilst on the subject of Mediterranean regional cooperation, Malta wishes to thank Tunisia for its wholehearted support for Malta’s proposal for the setting up of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly within the International Parliamentary Union and its hosting of the Secretariat of this Parliamentary Assembly.

Excellency,

Our two countries also are actively engaged in the Conference of the Western Mediterranean Countries, also referred to as the Five-Plus-Five Initiative and the Mediterranean Forum.

Presently, Malta holds the Presidency of the Five-Plus-Five Initiative and will host the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 29th and 30th June 2005.  Malta believes that the Five-Plus-Five Initiative should be an informal, pragmatic and a visible forum.  My country also intends to examine with its partners in which manner the European Neighbourhood Policy/Action Plans could be used to strengthen the social welfare systems of partner countries.  I am pleased that Malta and Tunisia will submit a Joint Paper on Culture and Development.  I am also pleased that the meeting will discuss the Tunisian proposal on the Year of the Mediterranean.

I note with satisfaction the holding of the Mediterranean Forum Ministerial Meeting in Tunisia, this October, to examine ideas and proposals concerning the future evolution of the Euro-Mediterranean (Barcelona) Partnership.

Excellency,

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, in 1967, our countries have enjoyed close and friendly relations.  Today, I am pleased to note that Malta and Tunisia have concluded a Friendship, Good Neighbourhood and Cooperation Treaty, an Agreement of Cooperation concerning the Advancement of Women, the Family and Childhood and a Cultural Cooperation Programme.   These developments augur well for our shared future.

History has it that both our countries were colonised and hence we both share a common experience in nation-building.  Now, we are working closely together to secure prosperity and a better future for our peoples.

With these thoughts in mind, I invite you, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, to raise your glass and to toast to the health of the President of Tunisia, and to the friendship between the Governments and People of Malta and Tunisia.