Malta’s ambassador to Denmark proves diplomacy can be spontaneous and off-the-cuff, The Copenhagen Post reported.

Malta opened its Copenhagen office in 2002 in the run-up to EU accession. The embassy’s sign stated they were closed during lunch hours, but the newspaper’s journalists decided to walk up the stairs anyway. Luckily, two men were moving a leather sofa into the office and the journalists slipped in and introduced themselves to Paul Radmilli, deputy head of the diplomatic mission... Within a few minutes, the doors to Ambassador Noel Buttigieg-Scicluna burst open and they were welcomed into his office.

“I was wondering when The Copenhagen Post would be along to interview me,” he laughed.” I was beginning to think there was something wrong. But I guess you saved the best for last.”

In the ensuing 20-minute interview, the ambassador shared his impressions of diplomatic life in Denmark, discussed his passion for collecting antiques, and managed to make a sales pitch for visiting Malta – even though the meeting was unscheduled and his secretary was on holiday.

The ambassador himself had just returned from a two-week holiday in his homeland, where life settles down to a relaxing pace in the summer and the Maltese enjoy the sun, the sea and eating long dinners together.

Maltese people love their homes. They inherit this from their families, he says. To decorate his residence in Denmark, the ambassador has taken up collecting antiques.

He confesses a passion for pottering around in various markets looking for interesting products of a lost age. In this world of mass production, it’s a pleasure to appreciate pieces that people have poured their mastery and insight into. We are losing that workmanship today.