The studies, a most attractive quality publication, consolidate the past 10 years of scholarly contributions on Vassalli, whom Napoleon called “the wisest among the Maltese”. The publication, edited by Olvin Vella was recently launched as part of Malta’s EU Accession celebrations. A richly documented exhibition by Karmenu Bonavia was also inaugurated by the Minister for Urban Development Jesmond Mugliett at the University of Malta library at the same time.

The book consists of nine papers most of which appeared in the local press but risked being forgotten. The respective authors updated their research with illustrations and notes. Joseph P. Borg, the Ghaqda tal-Malti (Università) president said that with more evidence coming to light, more publications are in the pipeline and the next Konferenza Vassalli will take place at San Anton Palace next October.

Expressing himself in excellent Maltese, M Chrismant stated that France was always willing to help and support Maltese students both at home and abroad.

Prof. Albert Borg, chairman of the Institute of Linguistics, highlighted the various areas in which the French embassy and the institute can collaborate for the benefit of students and researchers. The Institute of Linguistics has sound relations with the Institut National de Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO) which is based in Paris. The institute, which keeps in touch with the Department of Maltese and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Malta, is also a member of AIDA, the Association Internationale de Dialectologie Arabe, which is also based in Paris. During the meeting, Prof. Borg expressed the view and the hope that much can be achieved through cooperation with the French Embassy especially through student-exchange schemes which can also be offered to academic researches studying Maltese and Arabic Dialectology.