A Commonwealth food-tasting festival, coordinated by the embassy of Malta in Tripoli, was held in Tripoli by the Tripoli Commonwealth Cultural Group (TCCG).

Around 300 persons – mostly members of the Commonwealth communities in Libya – were present in the spacious grounds of The Oasis, the social club of the British diplomatic community in Tripoli.

Thirteen embassies presented three to four dishes with food from their countries, covering four continents.

The embassy of Malta in Tripoli presented its dishes on a nicely-decorated Maltese table: ricotta and pea pastizzi, imqarrun (baked macaroni), hobz biz-zejt, and imqaret (date-filled pastries) apart from gbejniet, bigilla and galletti.

ATLAM, a Maltese band in Libya led by Charles Saliba, provided live entertainment during the event with Maltese and international songs bringing the evening to a close with John Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance.

The Ambassador of Malta, Joseph Cassar, as Tripoli Commonwealth Group chairman and the British Ambassador, Sir Vincent Fean, as host of the event, inaugurated the activity.

Sir Vincent praised Malta’s initiative in setting up the Commonwealth Group in Tripoli and the TCCG’s efforts in organising an event that helped foster greater understanding among Commonwealth nations.

Proceeds from the event were donated to the UNHCR Office in Tripoli for its health and education programmes.

Coordination of activities between the communities of the Commonwealth countries in Libya began for the first time last year when, on Malta’s initiative, the Commonwealth Heads of Missions formed the Commonwealth Group made up of official representatives from 17 Commonwealth embassies resident in Libya.