The 58th anniversary of Malta’s
Independence was celebrated in Germany on three separate events held in Berlin
and in Heidelberg. On 7 September, the Ambassador of Malta to Germany, Dr Vanni
Xuereb, and his spouse, Charlò Baldacchino, hosted the honorary consuls of
Malta in Germany as well as representatives from the Malta Tourism Authority,
led by its Chairman Dr Gavin Gulia, and Air Malta to a buffet at their
Residence in Berlin. The following day, Ambassador Xuereb and Mr Baldacchino
hosted an official ‘Malta Day Reception’ in Mitte-Berlin. The reception was organised
in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority. Prior to the reception, the
MTA organised several workshops for tourism operators in the Berlin-Brandenburg
regions.
Amongst those attending the reception were members
of the German Federal Parliament, officials from the office of the Federal
President and from the Federal Government, ambassadors and other members of the
diplomatic corps, the President of the German-Maltese Association, the Director
of the Malta Centre at the University of Bremen, Maltese nationals currently
residing in Berlin, tourism operators, and journalists.
The guests were addressed by Ambassador Xuereb and
by Dr Gulia who delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Clayton Bartolo. Having just
received the news regarding the passing away of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth
II, Ambassador Xuereb began his speech by expressing his sorrow and paying
tribute, recalling how Queen Elizabeth II was Malta’s first Head of State from
independence until Malta became a Republic in 1974. The Ambassador’s statement
was followed by a minute of silence as a sign of respect.
The Ambassador proceeded by highlighting the
excellent bilateral relations between Malta and
Germany which have flourished along the years,
and underscored the importance of European unity, especially in the face of
Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Ambassador Xuereb also spoke about cooperation
between Malta and Germany on a multitude of levels, ranging from trade to
education, culture and tourism among others.
Another reception was held on 21 September
itself in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg. It was hosted by the Honorary Consul of Malta
in Baden-Württemberg, Dr Rainer Dulger and his spouse
Ms Christina Dulger. Ambassador Xuereb and Mr Baldacchino were the guests of
honour at the reception. The Ambassador also delivered a short address during
which he once again highlighted the excellent relations between Malta and
Germany. He also thanked Dr Dulger for his role as Honorary Consul and for having
chosen Malta as one of the countries in which to set up a subsidiary of his
company which has its headquarters in Heidelberg. In fact, the following day, Ambassador
Xuereb and Mr Baldacchino also had the opportunity to visit the ProMinent Headquarters
and plant, the manufacturing firm set up by the late Dr Viktor Dulger in the nineteen
sixties which also has a subsidiary in Malta.