It was a short but significant ceremony.
Last Monday, the two Libyan jets which ended up in Malta when their pilots defected from Libya in order not to carry out bombings on civilians at the start of the Libyan uprising against former leader Muammar Gaddafi were formally returned to the Libyan people.
The Mirages are still here, as they cannot fly, but they have been officially handed over to Libya. It means that they are no longer under Maltese responsibility. UN sanctions had prevented Malta from returning the aircraft, but clearance has since been given.
The story of the two jets played an important role in the Libyan revolt. It gave courage to the thousands of Libyans who were in the streets to fight against the Gaddafi forces. It fortified the aspirations of a people who had had enough of the Gaddafi regime and was prepared to go the whole way to oust him.
It took them eight months to find out where he was hiding, but at the end their resistance and determination were rewarded.
That story also put Malta on the map in the Libyan revolution. With our proximity to North Africa, there was no way that we could have avoided any involvement. And, following the arrival of the two Mirages, Malta for days was the hub that many sought to leave Libya as the fighting escalated.
Thousands of foreigners who used to work in Libya were evacuated to Malta in those eventful days. It was a time when Malta became a safe hub for all those who wanted to leave Libya. Several countries later expressed their gratitude for the role that Malta played to help their nationals return home.
Similarly, the new leaders of Libya thanked Malta for its help in this regard. Added to this, Malta also contributed its fair share of supplies to the beleaguered Libyan people.
Nearly a year after their arrival in Malta, a chapter has been closed with the official handing over of the jets to Libya. Nearly a year after the start of the revolt, it is hoped that the handing over will also serve as encouragement to the Libyan people that life is finally returning to normal.