On the invitation of US Congressman Robert Pittenger, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Dr Anglu Farrugia, participated in a Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum which was held in the Capitol, Washington DC, on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th September .

During the Forum, the participants had inter alia meetings with the US Congressmen and Congresswomen from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and with Chairman Goodlatte of the House Committee on Judiciary. They participated in discussions on “Full Assessment of the ISIS Threat against the West”, “Espionage and Transatlantic Politics” and “Defunding the Threat of Terrorism”.

On the fringes of the Forum, Speaker Anglu Farrugia discussed with the US Congress House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers the role of Malta in the current Libyan crises.

Speaker Farrugia emphasised that Malta, as a neutral and credible country, can have a very strategic role in dealing with all factions that are presently in conflict to dominate Libya.

Chairman Mike Rogers thanked Malta for accepting that the US Ambassador to Libya work temporarily from Malta in view of the volatile situation in that country.

The Speaker joined other Parliamentarians from a number of European and other countries, including Austria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Speaker Farrugia was accompanied by Carmelo Abela, Government Spokesman and Whip.