Embassy closure 'proves MLP right'

Malta's decision to close its embassy in Budapest, Hungary, proved the Labour Party was right when it criticised the opening of such an embassy three years ago, Leo Brincat, Labour's chief foreign affairs spokesman said.

Mr Brincat said Malta could not afford to open an embassy in Hungary and the low level of commerce between the two countries certainly could not justify having an embassy in Budapest.

The Nationalist government, Mr Brincat said, had opened the embassy simply because Hungary was about to join the European Union. This, however, did not make any sense, Mr Brincat added, especially since the Hungarian government had not shown any intention of opening an embassy in Malta.

Contacted by The Times, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo confirmed that Malta's embassy in Hungary would be closed and said this was part of the rationalisation process going on in the Foreign Ministry.