The government has no intention to harass anyone and wants to work to strengthen the diplomatic services, Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo said today.

Diplomatic Service members have been instructed by the UHM Voice of the Workers not to use any means of communication, which of electronic, after an industrial dispute with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The issue arose after a call for an expression of interest that could lead to “unqualified” individuals taking on diplomatic roles, together with other unresolved issues.

Although the Ministry promised that such an expression of interest would be suspended, it was never done in writing. Apart from that, since the Ministry disapproved of the Union's request for an urgent meeting, the UHM declared an industrial dispute.

"What I want to make clear is that first of all, we have great respect for diplomats," Evarist Bartolo said in comments to journalists when asked on the dispute.

The minister remarked that the government is investing in their professional development, and they have straightened the investment in the Diplomatic Academy at the University of Malta.

"We want to open up new opportunities, and we are working more closely with the arts faculty and the international relations department at the university", Bartolo added.

He also said that the government wants to strengthen its collaboration with the Diplo Foundation, which is one of the most developed in the world  for when it comes to digital diplomacy.

"I am sure as a former minister of education that we have certainly every interest in investing in the education and further development of our diplomats. At the same time, we believe that diplomacy today in the 21st century, which is becoming much more complicated, we still need to have a more diplomatically and professionally prepared service that needs to have a good mix of people from different specialized fields," the Minister added.

He said today's field of the international relations requires specific technical skills and that these are all things that strengthen diplomats. Bartolo added how the government wants its diplomats to be respected. It will continue to invest in them to be of better quality with the necessary skills and information to do their job appropriately in the 21st century.