MESSAGGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, GIORGIO NAPOLITANO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF MALTA

THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA
H.E. GEORGE ABELA
LA VALLETTA

ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR COUNTRY’S INDEPENDENCE, ON BEHALF OF THE ITALIAN PEOPLE AND ON MY OWN BEHALF, MOST FERVENT WISHES OF WELLBEING AND PROSPERITY FOR MALTA.

THE FRUITFUL COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES WITHIN THE MEDITERRANEAN, EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT HAS A SOLID BASIS NOT ONLY IN THE GEOGRAPHIC VICINITY  BUT ABOVE ALL IN OUR COMMON HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ROOTS.

THE CONSIDERABLE STRAINS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA IMPEL OUR TWO COUNTRIES TO BE COMMITTED IN A JOINT EFFORT TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN THE REGION AND TO DEAL WITH THE PHENOMENON OF IMMIGRATION ALSO IN PURSUIT OF A GREATER SOLIDARITY OF THE ENTIRE EUROPEAN UNION.

I AM SURE THAT THE INTENSE COLLABORATION WHICH EXISTS BETWEEN ITALY AND MALTA AT A BILATERAL AND EUROPEAN LEVEL WILL ENABLE US TO STRENGTHEN AND FORGE THE TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO PEOPLE.

IN THIS SPIRIT, I RENEW MY WISHES OF WELLBEING AND PROSPERITY FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF MALTA.


GIORGIO NAPOLITANO

21st September 2013