The meeting will be held after an invitation from Mr Powell, the statement added.

US Ambassador to Malta Anthony H Gioia will accompany Foreign Minister Dalli during his Washington meetings, which are scheduled to include a visit to the White House and meetings with officials at the National Security Council.

These meetings are taking place in an environment of extensive and important developments in the Mediterranean Region and the Middle East. The situation in the Middle East is seen to be worsening day after day, and that in Iraq is also very bleak, although a transfer of power to an Iraqi administration is still said to be on schedule to take place at the end of June.

Other items on the agenda include the changes that are taking place in the Mediterranean region, especially after Malta and Cyprus joined the European Union.

Mr Powell and Mr Dalli will also discuss the situation in Algeria, as the country moves towards normalisation, and that in Libya, which joined the international political mainstream to create more stability in the region, the statement said.

Malta and the US enjoy strong bilateral relations and Malta plays an important strategic role in counter-terrorism and non-proliferation efforts. While in the United States, it is expected that Minister Dalli and Secretary Powell will discuss Malta’s recent accession to the EU, cooperation in the global war on terrorism, and opportunities for American investment in Malta, particularly following the easing of US sanctions against Libya.