The High Commissioner of Malta in the United Kingdom Michael Refalo yesterday officially presented his credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

Dr Refalo, who before the general election in 2003 occupied the post of Tourism Minister, was officially named High Commissioner by President Edward Fenech Adami after his predecessor, George Bonello du Puis, completed his term of office. Dr Refalo will serve in his new post for the next three years.

Minutes before leaving his official residence in a horse-drawn carriage, Dr Refalo said he was very excited about the ceremony at which he would be presenting his credentials to HM the Queen.

He also said that the beginning of his term as High Commissioner is proving very hectic, in view of the preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which is being hosted by Malta in November.

To this effect, Dr Refalo explained that he had just received the letters from Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to serve as formal invitations for Commonwealth member states to attend the meeting in Malta. Dr Refalo will be distributing the letters to the various governments through their High Commissioners based in London.

He said that from his office in London, and along with deputy High Commissioner Olaf Terribile, the London-based office was complementing the organisational work being carried out by the CHOGM task force in Malta.

In addition to this, Malta’s High Commission was also conducting work in connection with the Queen’s visit to Malta to open the CHOGM.

Moreover, said Dr Refalo, the High Commission was also engaged in work in connection with the United Kingdom’s presidency of the European Union between July and December.

The High Commission, Dr Refalo explained, would also be keeping tabs on the forthcoming G8 Summit in Gleneagles, during which the issues of Africa and climate change are expected to be discussed. These issues also have an impact on Malta, he said.

Dr Refalo will be flying to Malta early next week in view of the visit of the commonwealth secretary-general Don McKinnon, who will be visiting Malta for a briefing on the preparations for CHOGM.