Foreign Minister meets French counterpart, Maltese diaspora in Paris
The migration situation; peace, security, and stability in the Mediterranean; the Middle East Peace Process; and Malta’s candidacy to join the International Organisation of La Francophonie as an observer, were the main items discussed by Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, Carmelo Abela, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian during a cordial and productive meeting held at the French foreign ministry in Paris on Friday, 13 July.
The two ministers agreed that Malta and France share many similar challenges, but also similar interests and positions.
Minister Abela praised the initiatives taken by France on the situation in Libya. He also thanked Minister Le Drian for his government’s participation in the efforts undertaken to bring together a coalition to take over responsibility for the migrants who disembarked the MV Lifeline in Malta on 27 June.
“We have embodied the European principle of solidarity,” Minister Abela said. “While it is clear that a long-lasting solution on the issue of disembarkation needs to be found, we are pleased to note that the last European Council has paved the way for more progress on this.”
Minister Le Drian expressed France’s full support for Malta’s application to join the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) as an observer. While originally open exclusively to countries having French as their official language or main minority language, OIF has expanded to include countries with little connection to the French language but which are interested in it as an international platform and as a forum for political and economic co-operation.
At the end of the bilateral meeting, the ministers signed an administrative arrangement between their respective foreign ministries. The agreement aims to encourage co-operation in the field of diplomacy to contribute to the support and development of the two countries’ bilateral relationship and strengthen their consultation and co-ordination on European, regional, and international dossiers, as well as on global issues and challenges. Tangibly, it will translate into seminars, as well as exchanges of experts, researchers and NGOs, including short-term training for Maltese diplomats at the French National School for Public Administration.
In Paris, Minister Abela also met with representatives of the Maltese diaspora at an event organised by Malta’s embassy in France under the theme ‘Connecting People: Les Maltais en France’. Maltese migrants and French citizens of Maltese descent spoke about issues ranging from the preservation of Maltese heritage in France to reconnecting with Malta through the acquisition of citizenship, the contribution of newly arrived Maltese immigrants, migration as a cultural asset, and doing business with Malta. Also present for this event was Malta’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Ambassador Joseph A. Filletti.
Pointing out that France and its territories are home to the sixthlargest Maltese community in the world after Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, Minister Abela said that it follows that this sizeable diaspora community deserves to be represented on the Council for the Maltese Living Abroad.
On Saturday, 14 July, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Minister Abela represented Malta at the traditional military parade held on the Avenue des ChampsÉlysées to mark Bastille Day. The minister also had the opportunity to exchange views with Michaëlle Jean, secretarygeneral of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, on Malta’s application to join the organisation as an observer.
During his two-day visit to the French capital, Minister Abela was accompanied by Malta’s ambassador to France, Helga Mizzi.