Heard in the Hive

The French Ambassador, Patrick Chrismant, whose complete fluency in Maltese is now very well known (he attributes it to his Maltese-speaking nanny when he was brought up in Morocco), has hosted more ceremonies at his Zebbug residence for prominent Maltese personalities who have been honoured by the French government.

On May 23, Tony Cassar Darien, the artistic director of the Manoel Theatre was made Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. The decoration was bestowed by Ambassador Chrismant on behalf of Mme Catherine Tasca, the Minister of Culture and Communication and a former general manager of the Buillons Orchestra.

Addressing guests led by the Minister of Youth and the Arts, Jesmond Mugliett, and Mrs Karen Mugliett and speaking alternately in French and Maltese, M. Chrismant expressed his pleasure since, for the first time in his career, he was bestowing such an important decoration, one of the four principal decorations in the French Republic, on an actor, broadcaster, writer and an artistic director.

He reviewed at some detail Mr Cassar Darien's achievements notably his local pioneering of nonsense humour, and his writings for radio, stage and the small screen.

Among the latter he mentioned A Short Respite which was successfully staged in Chicago and Germany and Lady Be Gold, the one-woman show written for the famous French actress Annette Dupoyet and presented at Avignon.

The Culture Cafe, broadcast weekly on VOM, has now entered its 27th season and has projected the islands well particularly among Maltese migrant communities. His successful track record as an artistic director at the Manoel Theatre is transparently obvious among the artists and the patrons who have followed the theatre's progress during these past years.

In his reply, visibly moved by M. Chrismant's mastery of Maltese, Mr Cassar Darien ruminated as to what makes Malta a nation and not just any other island, say like Rhodes, or Ibiza! Could a nation, he enquired, gradually decay into, first, a spiritual desert, followed by a physical one? He reiterated that in Malta, all the worthwhile cultural initiatives have been actioned by motivated individuals who did not rely on institutions but rested their case solely on a passionate urge to excel.

Since the ambassador had earlier on mentioned Guzeppina Attard Montalto and Fr Harry Born as influencing the artist's career, Mr Cassar Darien concluded by acknowledging the diverse artistic contributions made to the National Theatre by Nicolò Isouard, Albert Agius Ferrante, Paul Asciak and John Lowell (now Malta's Ambassador in Washington, DC) whose passion and loyalty will always serve him as an inspiration when the rigours of the stage tend to get out of hand!

The following Friday it was the turn of Malta's internationally-acclaimed composer Professor Mro Charles Camilleri, who was made an Officier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government for his contribution to music.

In 1991 Professor Camilleri was honoured with the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contribution of works of Maltese and Mediterranean origins.

At last Friday week's ceremony, Ambassador Chrismant spoke at length - and in perfect Maltese - on the composer's life and various achievements, and then handed over to President Guido de Marco.

The President and Charles Camilleri were boyhood friends and neighbours in Hamrun and have known each other for over 50 years.

Among the guests were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Joe Borg, and Mrs Borg, Professor Salvino Busuttil. Malta's Ambassador in Paris. the Tunisian Ambassador, Dr Hetira, Dr and Mrs Ray Bondin, Mr and Mrs Leslie Agius, Mgr John Azzopardi, the Ambassador of Portugal, Dr Fernando Ramos Machado, Dr Paul Mifsud, executive secretary to the Council for Arts and Culture, and Mrs Mifsud, Mr and Mrs Paul Chetcuti and other personalities and friends.

Italian National Day at Palazzo Parisio

About 600 guests, led by the President of the Republic and Mrs de Marco, and the Prime Minister, Dr Fenech Adami, last Tuesday attended the annual reception hosted by the Italian Ambassador to mark Italy's National Day.

This year the reception was held in the gardens of Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar, which were given an additional "Italian" touch with floodlighting in the Italian national colours - red, white and green - and entertainment by a medieval dance and folk group from Sicily, here for the "Malta-SE Sicily" festival presented by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, the Regione Siciliana and the Cooperativa Cinema Nuovo Italiano of Ragusa.

Guests were welcomed by the Italian Ambassador, Dott. Alvise Memmo, by Embassy staff and by the director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Dr Rosanna Cravenna.

In his speech, which he delivered in Italian, Ambassador Memmo said the reception marked the 57th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Italy on June 2, 1946 (following a referendum in which the majority voted for the abolition of the monarchy).

This signalled the beginning of the country's post-war reconstruction which eventually led to Italy's becoming one of the world's leading industrial powers, a member of the G7.

Dr Memmo referred to the long-standing ties between Malta and Italy, through the two countries' shared history and artistic and cultural heritage. In the last few months, however, with Malta's decision to join the European Union, of which Italy is a founder member, and the signing of the accession treaty in Athens, Italo-Maltese relations have been strengthened further.

Italy, he said, has consistently been a strong supporter of Malta's EU membership bid. Now his country will soon take up the Union's rotating six-month presidency. The Italian presidency has five objectives:

i) the completion of the enlargement process, with the full participation of the acceding countries;

ii) a commitment to conclude the EU's institutional reforms and to prepare for the Inter-Governmental Conerence to approve the new European Constitution;

iii) to increase competitiveness in Europe and to foster growth, employment, entrepreneurship, liberalisation and infrastructural projects, promote e-government and adopt pension reforms;

iv) to strengthen the EU's international position and work towards peace and stability, particularly by promoting dialogue and giving an impetus to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;

v) ensure citizens' security by acting more decisively against international terrorism and combating illegal immigration.

Dr Memmo referred to the fifth Italo-Maltese financial protocol which will provide financial and technical support for various infrastructural projects connected with the road network, the environment, and food safety, among others.

He also referred to the Italian military mission in Malta which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Dr Memmo ended by saying a few words in Maltese wishing the people of these islands progress and prosperity. He then proposed a toast to the President, the Prime Minister and the people of Malta.

In his reply, also delivered in Italian, President de Marco said that Italy's national feast is an event in which we Maltese participate with much pleasure, since for hundreds of years Malta has had a unique relationship with Italy.

In recent years, a tangible example of this relationship were the series of financial protocols, thanks to which, with Italian help, many of our architectural and cultural heritage has been restored - the latest example being the Langue of Italy in St John's Co-Cathedral, and the wall-paintings at Verdala Castle, with the expertise of the Malta Centre for Restoration.

President de Marco referred to the Maltese people's will to join the European Union, sealed with the signing of the accession treaty in Athens by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister on April 16.

He recalled that, as Foreign Minister, on July 16, 1990, he had submitted Malta's formal application to join the EU to Gianni de Michelis, then Italy's Foreign Minister, intentionally at the start of Italy's six-month presidency of the EU, since the Maltese government attached great significance to this.

Now, as Malta prepared itself to join, Italy will shortly have the presidency again.

President de Marco saluted the Italian military mission, which will be marking its 30th anniversary in Malta, for its important role and welcomed the imminent ratification of the fifth financial protocol by the Italian Parliament.

Italo-Maltese relations will continue to be strengthened, the President said, with his state visit to Italy in January.

President de Marco then proposed a toast to Italy-Maltese relations and to the health of President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

This was followed by the playing of the two national anthems.

BOV supports L-Istrina

Talent and creativity were at their best during the BOV talent show, held on May 17-18 at the St Aloysius College theatre.

Employees, family members, friends and customers attended both performances in great numbers. Proceeds collected from the sale of tickets amounted to Lm1,000 which will be donated to charity during this year's popular televised marathon, L-Istrina.

More than 70 employees were involved in this first-ever event of its kind, ultimately producing a rich, successful production. The programme included dance performances featuring original choreography by Jes Sciberras, a 20-member choir 'Colleagues in Harmony', directed by Marika Fenech, as well as a rock performance by the BOV band 'Boys Toys'.

Drama also featured prominently during the show. Among the humorous plays staged on both nights was Ideja Innovattiva, a comic parody based on real-life situations that BOV employees face in their day-to-day operations.

Congratulating all the performers on the opening night, BOV chairman Joseph F.X. Zahra complimented all the employees involved in the success of the bank's talent show and acknowledged that such a success would never have been possible without the dedication, team spirit and creativity displayed by all the performers and organisers.

Bingo anniversary party

The Embassy Bingo Hall on Level -4 of the Embassy Complex in Valletta recently celebrated its second anniversary with a buffet dinner organised on the premises for the occasion.

Along with plenty of food and wine, free games were played all night with special prizes and live entertainment throughout the course of the evening. The management of the Embassy Bingo Hall also presented a prize of a holiday to Tunisia to the winner, Antonia Borg.

The Bingo Hall is open seven days a week with state-of-the-art computerised bingo systems. Special prizes can also be won daily.

Alfredo Spiteri celebrates birthday in Toronto

Chev. Alfredo Spiteri recently celebrated his 66th birthday in Toronto during a three-week holiday as guest of the consul-general of Malta Milo Vassallo and Mrs Rita Vassallo.

A surprise party was held in his honour at Mr and Mrs Vassallo's residence. Guests included Mr and Mrs Arthur Soler, Mr and Mrs Walter Soler and Mr Walter Caruana, who were all Chev. Spiteri's former Valletta neighbours.

Other guests included Italian consul-general Luca Brofferio, Mr and Mrs John Caruana Galizia, Mr and Mrs Adrian Borg Olivier, Mr Louis Gauci, Dr Cecil Pace Asciak, Mr and Mrs Danny Gaisin and Mrs Sarah Burchell.

Miss American Dream Calendar Search

A Miss American Dream Calendar Search has recently been organised by Vogue Modelling Agency, at the 17th century castle of the Grand Mercure Selmun Palace Hotel.

Six models were chosen from the 16 contestants parading in evening and swimwear, to have their photos published for the 2004 calendar. The official photographer for the calendar was Charles Zammit of Fotogenic, Qormi.

Those selected were Charlene Mercieca (winner of the event and also chosen as Miss Potogenic), Joanne Fenech (also voted as best model in swimsuit), Dorianne Falzon (also awarded for best appearance), Lindsay Gambin, Mandy Formosa and Merka Vella.

Elaine Bezzina was chosen as the Best Fashion Catwalk Model and Andee Agius as best model in evening wear.

The category for children was won by Elizabeth Grace Darmanin, Daphne Vassallo and Andonia Cauchi. Other titles was won by Valeria Sultana (Best Fashion Catwalk Model), Cressida Galea (Little Miss Confidence), Roxelle Caruana (Little Miss Pearl) and Doralise Galea (Little Miss Charm).

Sandra Borg, Mariella Green and Carmen Attard won the competition for married women. Rita Mercieca was awarded the prize for Best Evening Gown and Patricia Darmanin was awarded that for Best Appearance.

People

DR ISABELLA BORG, MD, M.Sc. (Clinical Genetics) (Lond), RGN (Lond), has successfully completed her studies leading to a Ph.D. in Medical Genetics at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Her thesis is entitled "A clinical and molecular cytogenetic study of patients with mental retardation, developmental delay and dysmorphism associated with an apparently normal or balanced rearranged karyotype."

During her time in Cambridge, Dr Borg was appointed Honorary Clinical-Fellow in the Department of Medical Genetics at Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Funded by a Commonwealth Scholarship and Malta Department of Health, Dr Borg has researched various fields. She has received a number of awards for her work on clinical molecular cytogenetics, including the prestigious award of the Association of Clinical Cytogeneticists of the UK, in 1999. Some of her results have also been presented in varous international conferences and published in international journals.

She has also received grants through the EU Commission, the German Genome Programme and the University of Cambridge Isaac Newton Fund.

Dr Borg is currently employed with the Department of Health and is based at the University of Malta.

The President and Mrs de Marco's engagements - June 9-15

Tomorrow
9 a.m. The President inaugurates the First International Conference on the role of Health and Culture in conflict resolution, co-sponsored by the World Psychiatric Organisation with the participation of the World Health Organisation at the Corinthia San Gorg, St Julian's.
11.30 The President receives Mr Saviour Borg, former Ambassador of Malta to the People's Republic of China, at the Palace, Valletta.
12.30 p.m. The President receives Ms Fatma Elzahraa Etman, Ambassador of Egypt.
6.30 Mrs de Marco presides over a meeting of the Ball of the August Moon Committee at San Anton Palace.

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President visits the Armoury at the Palace, Valletta.
11.15 The President receives Mr Mark Miceli Farrugia, Ambassador of Malta to Lithuania.
1.15 for 1.30 p.m. The President hosts a luncheon in honour of the president and executive committee of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses at San Anton Palace.

Wednesday
10 a.m. The President is interviewed by Mr Roberto Zichatella of Famiglia Cristiana at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President receives the executive council of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
Noon The President receives Mr Richard Muscat, Ambassador of Malta to Ireland.

Thursday
9.15 a.m. The President receives the Prime Minister at the Palace, Valletta.
10.30 The President is presented with credentials by Mrs Nobuko Matsubara, Ambassador of Japan.
11.15 a.m. The President is presented with a copy of the publication by Joseph Vella Bondin on the Stabat Mater of Girolamo Abos.
1.15 for 1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco host a luncheon in honour of the newly accredited Ambassador of Japan at San Anton Palace.
7 The President and Mrs de Marco attend a reception hosted by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation and Mrs Vlasova on the occasion of the National Day of the Russian Federation at their residence in Kappara.

Friday
7.05 a.m. The President leaves Malta for the UK to participate in the conference entitled "Wider, deeper, stronger: A conference on the enlargement of the EU" organised by Keith Vaz, MP, former British Minister of Europe in conjunction with the University of Leicester.

Saturday
10.05 a.m. The President delivers the opening address at the conference "Wider, deeper, stronger: A conference on the enlargement of the EU" at the House of Commons, London.
8.30 p.m. The President attends a dinner in his honour hosted by Keith Vaz, MP, at the House of Commons.

Sunday
3.10 p.m. The President arrives at Malta International Airport from London.

For your diary

Car boot sales will be held today and every Sunday in aid of the Vittoriosa Stars Football Club at the football ground in Vittoriosa, Il-Fortini, all day.

A fair in aid of the disabled is being held today at Ir-Razzett tal- Hbiberija today. Brand new toys, tools, books and other items will be on sale. Go-carts and horse rides will also be available. The fair will be open from 8.30 a.m. till 3 p.m.

A book fair in aid of the monstrance for the relic of St Helen, will be open at St Helen's parish church, Birkirkara, today from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m.

The LionS Club Mdina is organising a fashion show by the GTI Group, at Villa Arrigo, San Pawl tat-Targa on Tuesday at 10 a.m. For further details phone 2137-4973 or 2141-5041.

Ward u Zghar is organising a celebration for members who have had their birthday during the past month, at the Centru Hidma Socjali, St Venera, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

MAPA association is holding its next meeting, at Stella Maris College, Gzira, on Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. F. Chircop will continue his discussion on the transitions of life at the adolescent stage.

The Singles Social Circle is organising a party at Beachhaven in Xemxija on Saturday at 9 p.m. Those wishing to attend may bring one guest. Bookings, at Lm 1.25 per person, by Thursday.

Soroptimist International Malta is organising a fund-raising event at Villa Madama, Balzan, on Friday at 8 p.m. Sixties music will be played and a glass of wine will be given on entrance. For reservations, at Lm5 each, phone Lina Borg Vassallo on 2149-5523, 2158-1559 or 9945-1204.

The Malta Catholic Action is organising a trip to Gozo, on June 17. A barbecue is being held at the Grand Hotel Les Lapins, Ta' Xbiex, on July 4. For bookings phone 2122-2239.