President Abbas joined Mediterranean leaders on Sunday for the Mediterranean Union summit in Paris, and then proceeded to Malta for the official state visit.

In his speech during the state dinner in Verdala Palace on Tuesday, President Edward Fenech Adami said that the Maltese Government has decided to set up a diplomatic mission in Ramallah, Palestine, with the aim of strengthening relations in pursuit of the common objective of peace and security in the region.

“Malta has a long-standing commitment to a two-state solution,” said President Fenech Adami, “inspired by the need to promote the politics of moderation.”