An important strategic objective of Maltese foreign policy, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told students, was the promotion of Malta as a location of international dialogue and scholarship.

Dr Frendo was opening a students’ conference on the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area and the External Dimensions of the Bologna Process, organised by the University Student Council (KSU) and the National Unions of Students in Europe.

He said the role of education was crucial for the Mediterranean region’s stability and for its effective socio-economic, political and cultural development. Malta was committed to encouraging students from third countries to study and train here during the formative stage of their careers as the promotion of Malta as a location of international dialogue and scholarship was an important strategic objective of Malta’s foreign policy.

Dr Frendo said that education was an important component in a country’s foreign relations since the foundation of foreign relations is the people and the Bologna Process – which the conference was discussing – was based on the contact of people with people.

Education, he said, was pivotal in fostering the values of democracy, respect for the rule of law, human rights and peace. These were values which Malta insisted upon in its actions with the international community, be it in the Mediterranean, Europe or at world level, as clearly stated in the Strategic Objectives of Malta’s Foreign Policy.