Malta–Palestine relations

Maltese–Palestinian relations
Map indicating locations of Malta and State of Palestine

Malta
Palestine
Building hosting the Representative office of Malta in Ramallah

Malta–Palestine relations are the diplomatic relations between Malta and Palestine. Malta has traditionally held close and friendly relations with the Palestinian people ever since Malta's attainment of Independence on 21 September 1964. The Foreign Policy of Malta has consistently supported international efforts aimed at a peaceful and negotiated resolution to the conflict aimed at establishing a State of Palestine living side by side by the State of Israel in peace and security.[1][2]

During Christmas of 1999, President of Malta (Emeritus), Guido de Marco attended the Bethlehem Midnight Mass (24-25 December 1999) and met with then President of Palestine, Yasser Arafat.[3][4] In July 2008, the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas visited Valletta, Malta and called on President of Malta (Emeritus), Edward Fenech Adami.[5][6] In January 2019, President of Malta (Emeritus), Marie Louise Coleiro Preca made a historic two day visit to Palestine visiting the cities of Bethlehem and Ramallah and met with President Abbas. During Christmas of 2019, Former Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat attended the Bethlehem Midnight Mass ( 24–25 December 2019 ) and had meetings with the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas and the Prime Minister of Palestine, Muhammad Shtayyeh.[7]

Throughout the years, Malta and Palestine have sought to expand their bilateral relations through the intensification of cooperation in various sectors. Visits of respective Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, Ministers and Dignitaries to both countries take place on a regular basis.[8][9][10][11]

The Republic of Malta has a representative office in Ramallah, Palestine, which is a diplomatic mission headed by a Maltese Head of Representative Office (Representative) resident in Palestine.[12]

List of the Representatives of the Republic of Malta in Ramallah

  • Mr. Alan Bugeja (April 2009 - April 2012)[13][14]
  • Dr. Mark Pace (July 2012 - September 2015)[15][16][17]
  • Mr. Reuben Gauci (October 2015 - September 2020)[18][19][20][21][22]
  • Mr. Franklin Aquilina (September 2020 to date) Incumbent

Resident diplomatic missions

  • Malta has a representative office in Ramallah.
  • Palestine has an embassy in Swieqi.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion". foreignaffairs.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  2. ^ Abela, Carmelo (21 November 2014). "Statement by Hon. Mr. Carmelo Abela MP, Government Spokesman and Government Parliamentary Whip, at the United Nations International Meeting of Parliamentarians in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace on 21 November 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York" (PDF). un.org.
  3. ^ "Medal of Bethlehem 2000" (PDF). The OMSA Journal. Orders & Medals Society of America.
  4. ^ "Abbas hails Malta's support". Times of Malta.
  5. ^ "Statement by President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca following bilateral talks with President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, 31 January 2019".
  6. ^ "President hopes Israeli-Palestine talks on two-state solution will resume". Times of Malta. February 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "Maltese PM visits Bethlehem for Christmas Midnight Mass". PNN. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  8. ^ "Updated: Netanyahu meets Muscat, insists sanctions on Iran should not be lifted". Times of Malta.
  9. ^ "Foreign minister George Vella in discussions with Palestinian dignitaries in West Bank - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt.
  10. ^ "Malta and Palestine agree on commerce and education - TVM News".
  11. ^ "Malta offers to bridge talks of the peace process between Israel and Palestine - TVM News".
  12. ^ "Home - Palestine". foreignandeu.gov.mt.
  13. ^ "Malta opens Representative Office in Ramallah". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  14. ^ "A piece of Malta in Ramallah". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  15. ^ "Presentation of Credentials". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  16. ^ "Written in Stone – History in Malta and Palestine". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  17. ^ "Lost Voices in Malta and Palestine". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  18. ^ "Malta's New Representative to Palestine presents letters to President Abbas". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  19. ^ "The Ekklesia Sisters Choir participates in the traditional Bethlehem Lighting of the Christmas Tree Concert". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  20. ^ "Palestinian Maltese Writer Walid Nabhan visits Palestine on a Cultural Diplomacy Tour under the Auspices of Malta's Presidency of the Council of the EU". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  21. ^ "Representative of Malta in Palestine delivers a lecture on Valletta 2018 at Birzeit University in Ramallah". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  22. ^ "May the spirit of the Holy Land guide us through these COVID 19 times!". PNN. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-06-09.