Ambassador Richard Vella Laurenti, Malta’s resident ambassador in Egypt, recently presented the letter of appointment to African Union Chairperson Professor Alpha Oumar Konare at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Professor Konare warmly welcomed Ambassador Vella Laurenti, saying that he was pleased that Malta has become one of 35 non-African countries accredited to the African Union.

He said that there are many areas of partnership open between Africa and the non-African countries accredited to it, and added that cooperation does not always have to be measured in monetary terms. Professor Konare said that Africa is conscious of the many challenges it faces and that it also knows it has the means to resolve its problems.

Ambassador Vella Laurenti assured Professor Konare of Malta’s interest in the invaluable work the African Union does for the continent in facing the challenges and problems that beset its peoples.