Malta-Italy relations "special"

President Guido de Marco yesterday thanked successive Italian governments for their generosity in four financial protocols which helped Malta carry out important infrastructural projects.

Prof. de Marco expressed his gratitude at a meeting with the Italian Minister for European Community Policies, Rocco Buttiglione.

He said Malta had special bilateral relations with Italy and shared a common future as they were both Euro-Mediterranean countries.

The President referred to the situation in the Middle East, saying that unless something was done, this could become more tragic and would have a knock-on effect on the entire Mediterranean basin and Europe.

Prof. Buttiglione said he was pleased to meet Prof. de Marco, whose international stature and vision were respected in Italy and throughout the world.

On Tuesday, Prof. Buttiglione met Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Borg and MLP deputy leader Joe Brincat.