The President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, received Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia Mr Khemaies Jhinaoui, on a courtesy call at San Anton Palace.
The President and Mr Jhinaoui spoke about the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, which exist on a diplomatic level, on an entrepreneurial level and on a commercial level, amongst others.
Mr Jhinaoui also conveyed the greetings of the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Beji Caid Essebsi, who has recently met President Coleiro Preca during a working visit in the Republic of Tunisia earlier this year.
President Coleiro Preca thanked Mr Jhinaoui for his visit and spoke about her recent visit, during which, she held bilateral talks with the President and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tunisia apart from also holding a meeting with female members of parliament.
The President augured that Tunisia will have more and more success in bringing about the wonderful vision of an avant-garde and progressive North African and Mediterranean country and said that Tunisia is an effective example of determination and bravery, to achieve stability, democracy and peace, at a time when, unfortunately, many around us are inundated with divisions and conflicts.
In this regard, President Coleiro Preca said that she “would like the whole world to know the work that Tunisia is currently doing to achieve stability, democracy and peace, so that everyone can then commend this work.” The President also commended the Tunisian Foreign Minister on how Tunisia is helping in the refugees crisis which has hit the Mediterranean and North African region.
Malta stands by Tunisia in opening a new chapter of stability and growth - Vella
Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella also held talks with Mr Jhinaoui. The two Ministers reaffirmed the strong and historical ties between Malta and Tunisia and agreed on the need to enhance the natural link that exists between the two countries. Minister Vella expressed Malta’s full support to Tunisia as it undergoes wide-ranging reforms.
Minister Jhinaoui expressed his appreciation of the warm welcome extended by Minister Vella and for the consistent support that Malta expresses to Tunisia on all fronts. The Tunisian Foreign Minister also underlined the challenges being faced in relation to unemployment with particular reference to youth, the economic situation and the consequences of terrorist attacks in his country.
Minister Jhinaoui pointed out that this is one of the very first bilateral visits he is conducting in Europe and is meant to reiterate the importance that Tunisia attaches to the deepening of relations with Malta.
The meeting resulted in an agreement to reconvene the Malta-Tunisia Joint Commission later on this year. The latest session of the Joint Commission was hosted by Tunisia in 2012. In sign of Malta’s solidarity with the Tunisian people, Minister Vella announced that the Maltese Government will be offering a scholarship for a Master of Arts in Humanitarian Action at the University of Malta for the coming academic year.
Malta will also offer training in the English language for a number of Tunisian civil servants, as well as training in the field of Border Management.
The two Ministers agreed to increase the frequency of bilateral exchanges between Malta and Tunisia on the margins of international and regional fora such as the 5+5 Dialogue and the UN General Assembly in order to discuss issues of mutual and common interest.
Minister Vella reiterated his commitment to strengthen these contacts, not only on the bilateral front, but also in the European Union, particularly during the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2017.
The two ministers also had discussions on regional issues especially Libya and the Middle East, besides sharing assessments and opinions on the functioning of organisations such as the League of Arab States, the 5+5, and the Union for the Mediterranean.