During a state visit in Tunisia, Maltese President Dr. Edward Fenech Adami met his Tunisian counterpart Mr. Zine El Abidine. Accompanied by a Maltese delegation including Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, one of the main items on the agenda was furthering discussions on the Joint Declaration of Intention on Joint Oil Exploration and Exploitation.
Dr. Edward Fenech Adami’s flew to Tunisia on Tuesday where he met various authorities during his two-day stay up until Wednesday afternoon. In meetings on Tuesday the two Presidents discussed a number of cooperation agreements in the fields of medical services and public health, handicrafts, and information and communication technologies, which were signed by the Maltese Foreign Minister and his Tunisian counter part Mr. Abdelwahab Abdullah.
Later during the day in a state dinner with the Tunisian President on Tuesday evening, Dr. Edward Fenech Adami said that the agreements complement existing ones and are proof of our countries’ multilevel, long term engagement to a strategic partnership. He added that the Joint Declaration of Intention on Joint Oil Exploration and Exploitation is an agreement of significant proportions that should lead to a qualitative leap in our strategic partnership. The Joint Declaration of Intention on Joint Oil Exploration and Exploitation was signed last February. In March the Maltese government appointed three technical experts to identify zones of the Continental Shelf located between the two states for joint oil exploration and exploitation. Further discussions concerning the issue are expected to ensue in the upcoming months.
The Maltese President also spoke of the illegal immigration crisis Malta is facing, saying that “Solidarity must also translate into assistance to countries of first arrival to be able to cope with the mass influxes which are stretching our resources beyond their limits.”
Besides the Tunisian President, Dr. Edward Fenech Adami also met the Mayor of Tunis and a group of Councillors. The President also addressed a business promotion seminar for Tunisian and Maltese businessmen. Speaking to the Mayor of Tunis and a number of Councilors on Wednesday, the President said that the Tunisian Embassy of Malta is calling for an annual ceremony in memory of Maltese pioneers who lived in Tunisia. He explained that although nowadays there are only about 30 Maltese in Tunisia, not counting those of Maltese origin, back in 1881 the Maltese population in Tunisia outnumbered the French by 7000 to 700.
The President of Malta, Dr. Edward Fenech Adami ended his visit in Tunisia with a second meeting with the his Tunisian counterpart, Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, at Carthage Palace.
During the meeting both Presidents discussed aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as international matters as well as the problem of illegal immigration. The Presidents are of the common opinion that the problem of illegal immigration needs to be dealt with at its roots and thus in the countries of origin of these illegal immigrants.
On Tuesday afternoon, the President also addressed the business promotion seminar for Tunisian and Maltese businessmen on Tuesday at the Maison de l’Exportateur.
See also:
President on state visit to Tunisia
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 4, 2006, 15:08 CET
Experts appointed for talks on oil exploration
By MaltaMedia News
Mar 10, 2006, 16:00 CET
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