Prof. Attard was presented with the award by French ambassador to Malta Patrick Chrismant on behalf of the President of the French Republic at the ambassador’s residence in Zebbug in the presence of President Edward Fenech Adami, President Emeritus Guido de Marco and Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea, as well as ambassadors, judges, family and friends.

The Legion d’Honneur is conferred upon French citizens or foreigners for outstanding achievements in military or civil life.

In his speech, the French ambassador pointed out that Prof. Attard is an eminent Maltese jurist whose fame extends beyond Maltese shores. Since his university days, he has dedicated his life to the study of law.

He was the first Professor of Public International Law at the University of Malta. Since then, his academic interests have focused primarily on three areas: the codification and progressive development of international environmental law (in 1990 the United Nations Environmental Programme awarded him the Chair of Environmental Diplomacy), diplomacy (Prof. Attard was instrumental in the establishment of the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies) and international maritime law (he directs the IMO International Maritime Law Institute).

The French ambassador said France would never forget Prof. Attard’s contributions and wished to award him particularly for his work in establishing the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, his efforts for the codification of progressive development of international law and the teaching of international maritime law on a comparative basis.

Prof. Attard thanked the ambassador for his generous words and said he felt the honour was also due to the many people who worked with him to achieve the successes referred to by the ambassador. He asked the ambassador to convey his deep appreciation to the French President and his government for bestowing such an honour upon him.

In his speech, Dr Fenech Adami recalled many memories he had of Prof. Attard and concluded by expressing his great pleasure that France had honoured a Maltese for his contribution to the field of international law.