The Office of Italian President has published, on its website, the programme of Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi’s visit to Malta tomorrow and Friday.

President Ciampi will be greeted on St George’s Square where the national anthems of the two countries will be played. He will then have a meeting with President Edward Fenech Adami, following which there will be declarations to the press.

In the afternoon, President Ciampi will be placing a wreath at the foot of the War Memorial in Floriana and will later visit St John’s Co-Cathedral where he will open the Mostra del Restauro Italiano (Exhibition of Italian Restoration).

There will be a State dinner in his honour in the evening.

On Friday, President Ciampi will be meeting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant, separately, at San Anton Palace.

He will later plant a tree in the palace gardens before attending the official dinner hosted by Dr Gonzi at Castille.

In the afternoon, President Ciampi will be meeting Maltese businessmen and will close his visit to Malta by hosting a reception on board the Italian vessel Mimbelli.