Foreign relations of Malta

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Malta
Foreign relations

For several years after independence in 1964, Malta followed a policy of close co-operation with the United Kingdom and other NATO countries. This relationship changed with the election of the Malta Labour Party government in June 1971, led by Dom Mintoff. The NATO subheadquarters in Malta was closed at the request of the government, and the U.S. Sixth Fleet discontinued recreational visits to the country.

After substantially increased financial contributions from several NATO countries (including the United States), British forces remained in Malta until 1979. Following their departure, the Labour government charted a new course of neutrality and became an active member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Malta is an active participant in the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe, OSCE, and various other international organisations. In these forums, Malta has frequently expressed its concern for the peace and economic development of the Mediterranean region.

The Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) government elected in May 1987 continued a policy of neutrality and non-alignment, but in a Western context. The government desires close relations with the United States and Europe, with an emphasis on increased trade and private direct investment. In 1992, U.S. Navy ships started paying liberty calls again and currently do so on a regular basis.

On May 1, 2004, Malta withdrew from the Non-Aligned Movement and became a full member of the European Union, with which it had an associationship agreement since 1971. It was one of ten new members which joined on that date. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, at Palazzo Parisio, oversees the direction of Maltese foreign policy.

Embassies

Malta has foreign embassies with:

* High Commission

Europe

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Armenia 1993-05-27
  • Armenia is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome.
  • Malta is represented in Armenia through its embassy in Warsaw and honorary consulate in Yerevan.
 Austria
 Belarus 1991
  • Belarus is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy).[15]
  • Malta is represented in Belarus through its embassy in Moscow (Russia).[16]
 Belgium
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations soon after Malta’s independence.
  • Belgium has an honorary consulate in Valletta.[17]
  • Malta has an embassy in Brussels and an honorary consulate in Antwerp.[18]
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.
 Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy).[19]
  • Malta has 2 honorary consulates in Bulgaria (in Sofia and Varna).[20]
  • Malta joined the European Union as a full member on 1 May 2004, while Bulgaria joined on 1 January 2007.
 Croatia 1992-06-30
 Cyprus See also Foreign relations of Cyprus
 Czech Republic
  • The Czech Republic is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome, (Italy) and through an honorary consulate in Valletta.[22]
  • Malta is represented in the Czech Republic through a non-resident ambassador based in the Foreign Ministry at Valletta.[23]
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.
 Denmark
 Estonia 1992-01-01 See also Foreign relations of Estonia

Georgians in Malta

There is a community of 129 Georgians in Malta, the second Caucasus people-like community in Malta, after Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

 France
 Georgia 1993-01-02 See also Foreign relations of Georgia
 Germany see Foreign relations of Germany
 Greece see Foreign relations of Greece
 Holy See see Foreign relations of the Holy See
 Hungary see Foreign relations of Hungary
 Italy see Italy–Malta relations
 Kosovo See also Foreign relations of Kosovo
 Lithuania See also Foreign relations of Lithuania
 Moldova
 Netherlands 1964
 Portugal
 Romania
  • Malta has an honorary consulate in Bucharest.[42]
  • Romania has a non-resident embassy for Malta in Rome (Italy) and an honorary consulate in Valletta.[43]
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.
  • Malta joined the European Union as a full member on 1 May 2004, while Romania joined on 1 January 2007.
 Russia
 Serbia 1964 see Malta–Serbia relations
  • Malta is represented in Serbia through a non-resident ambassador based in Valletta (in the Foreign Ministry).[46]
  • Serbia is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy) and through an honorary consulate in Valletta.[47]
 Slovakia see Malta–Slovakia relations
  • Malta is represented in Slovakia through a non resident ambassador based in Valletta (in the Foreign Ministry).[48]
  • Slovakia is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy) and an honorary consulate in Valletta.[49][50]
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.
  • The foreign relations between Malta and Slovakia are not very intensive. Foreign policy of Malta is concentrated rather on cooperation with Algeria, Tunis, Libya and Egypt. There is, however, 41 years lasting cooperation between those two countries.[51]
  • In 2001 Slovak prime minister Mikuláš Dzurinda visited Malta at the invitation of Maltese premier Edward Fenech Adami, and negotiated the integration of both countries into European Union and economic cooperation between Malta and Slovakia.[52]
  • In 2008 Slovakian agency SARIA signed a treaty of reciprocal assistance related to third-world countries, with Malta Enterprise.[51]
  • Slovak prime minister Robert Fico visited Maltese capital Valletta in 2008.[53]
 Slovenia
 Spain 1977
 Sweden 1964
  • Malta is represented in Sweden through its embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark) and through 2 honorary consulates (in Malmö and Sundsvall).[58]
  • Sweden is represented in Malta through a non resident ambassador (based in the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm) and through an honorary consulate in Valletta.[59]
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.
  Switzerland see Switzerland and the European Union
 Ukraine see Malta–Ukraine relations
  • The Maltese embassy in Moscow (Russia) is also accredited as a non resident embassy to Ukraine.
  • Ukraine is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy).
 United Kingdom 1964 see Malta – United Kingdom relations

In the 1950s and 1960s, serious consideration was given in both countries to the idea of a political union between the United Kingdom and Malta. However, this plan for "Integration with Britain" foundered, and Malta gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1964.

North Africa and the Middle East

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Egypt
 Israel
  • Malta has an embassy in Tel-Aviv.
  • Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
  • See also Maltese Jews.
  • In December 2015, Israel singled Malta and five other EU countries for sanctions because they supported a decision that goods made in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights should be marked accordingly.[62]
 Libya see Libya–Malta relations
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations soon after Malta’s independence.
  • Libya has an embassy in Balzan.
  • Malta has an embassy in Tripoli.[63]

Malta has enjoyed cordial relations with Libya ever since its Independence. In 1984, a Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation was signed with Gaddafi's regime by Dom Mintoff. This treaty included a security protocol in which Libyan forces agreed to train and arm their Maltese counterparts. Libya supplied Malta with refined crude oil starting in 1975. Libyan nationals did not require visas to enter Malta until 2004.

 Morocco
  • Malta has only an honorary consulate in Marrakech (Daniel Hourès : Hon.Consul, with jurisdiction over the Kingdom of Morocco).
 Saudi Arabia 1960s
 Tunisia
 Turkey

Rest of world

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Australia 1967 see Australia–Malta relations

Both countries have full embassy level diplomatic relations since 1967. Australia has a High Commission in Valletta. Malta has a High Commission in Canberra, 2 Consulates-General (in Melbourne and Sydney), and 4 honorary consulates (in Adelaide, Ascot Vale, Melbourne and Perth).

Maltese president Eddie Fenech Adami embarked on a state visit to Australia in February 2009, where he met with Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. During an official dinner in honour of the Maltese President, Kevin Rudd declared "Australia would not be as complete without Malta".[67] In the same month, Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg visited Australia for discussions with Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith, where the commercial relationship between the two countries were discussed, in particular the signing of a contract between a Perth-based shipbuilding company and the Maltese armed forces for the construction and delivery of four inshore patrol craft.[68]

 Canada 1964
 China see Foreign relations of China
 India see India–Malta relations
 North Korea 1971 See Foreign relations of North Korea
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between North Korea and Malta started in 1971.[74]
 Pakistan
  • Malta is represented in Pakistan through its embassy in Beijing (China) and an honorary consulate in Karachi. Pakistan is represented in Malta through its embassy in Tripoli (Libya) and an honorary consulate in Marsa.
  • In 2007, in a meeting in Malta between Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and Foreign Minister of Malta Michael Frendo, the two countries agreed to continue the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the United Nations and other international forums as well and reviewed bilateral ties with a view to strengthening relations between Pakistan and Malta in all spheres, especially trade and investment.[75] Foreign Minister Kasuri emphasized the need for exchanging trade delegations to exploit true potential for enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries, which are the "gateways" to their respective regions. Dr. Michael Frendo agreed to send an expert delegation to Pakistan to seek opportunities for enhancing bilateral trade relations. Pakistan also sought Malta's support for Pakistan's initiative for equitable market access to the European Union through a Free Trade Agreement or similar mechanism.[76][77] Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
  • In 2002 a Maltese citizen, who was born in Pakistan, was sentenced to seven years in prison in Malta. He was found guilty of kidnapping 11 Pakistani babies that were brought to Malta for adoption.[78] In 2009 it was reported that a Pakistan-based human trafficking ring has set up a successful business in Malta, where Pakistanis seeking illegal entry into mainland Europe are being furnished with new travel documents and transported on to Italy and Spain. It was reported that sources within the Pakistani Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said that the illegal migration of Pakistanis to Europe was being carried out through Malta, from where the migrants are being transported by ship to Sicily and onward to countries such as Italy and Spain.[79]
 South Korea 2 April 1965[80] See Malta – South Korea relations
  • The establishment of diplomatic relations between the South Korea and Malta began on 2 April 1965.
  • On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations] in 2015 President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye exchanged celebratory messages with Maltese President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca
  • Bilateral Trade in 2014
    • Exports 1,014,000,000 US dollars
    • Imports 514,000,000 US dollars
  • Bilateral Investments(2014):
    • South Korea's investment in Malta was 31,490,000 US dollars
    • Malta's investment in South Korea was 5,883,000,000 US dollars[81]
 United States 1964 see Malta – United States relations

Malta and the United States established full diplomatic relations upon Malta's independence in 1964; overall relations are currently active and cordial. The United States has been sympathetic to Malta's campaign to attract private investment, and some firms operating in Malta have U.S. ownership or investment. These include major hotels, manufacturing and repair facilities, and some offices servicing local and regional operations.

Malta and the Commonwealth of Nations

Malta has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1964,when it became an independent Dominion under the name 'State of Malta'.

Malta became a Commonwealth republic on 13 December 1974, when the last Governor-General of Malta, Sir Anthony Mamo became the first President of Malta.

See also

References

  1. "Australian High Commission". Malta.embassy.gov.au. 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  2. Embassy of Belgium in Valletta
  3. "Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Malta". Mt.chineseembassy.org. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  4. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malta - Denmark". Foreign.gov.mt. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  5. Archived January 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. "L'ambassade de France à Malte". Ambafrance-mt.org. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  7. Deutsche Botschaft Valletta - Start-Seite
  8. "Embassy of Italy in La Valletta". Amblavalletta.esteri.it. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  9. Ambassade Valletta - Welkom op de Website van de Nederlandse Ambassade te Valletta Archived December 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. "Посольство Российской Федерации в Республике Мальта / Embassy of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Malta". Malta.mid.ru. Archived from the original on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  11. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación | Gobierno de España Archived January 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. http://ita.mofa.go.kr/korean/eu/ita/main/index.jsp
  13. UK in Malta
  14. "U.S. Embassy Malta". Malta.usembassy.gov. 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  15. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  16. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  17. "Diplomatie.be". Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  18. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  19. Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archived April 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  20. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  21. http://www.mvep.hr/hr/predstavnistva/veleposlanstva-stranih-drzava-u-rh/malta-split,443.html
  22. "Czech honorary consulate in Valletta". Czech-malta.com. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  23. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  24. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  25. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  26. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  27. "French embassy in Malta". Ambafrance-mt.org. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  28. "Direction of Georgian representation in Malta". Mfa.gov.mt. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  29. "Italian embassy in Valletta". Amblavalletta.esteri.it. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  30. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  31. "Malta recognises independence of Kosovo". timesofmalta.com. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  32. "Malta tirrikonoxxi lil Kosovo bħala Stat Indipendenti" (in Maltese). Department of Information - Government of Malta. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  33. "Ministri i Jashtëm Enver Hoxhaj dhe homologu i tij nga Malta, Tonio Borg, kanë nënshkruar marrëveshjen për vendosjen e marrëdhënieve diplomatike mes Republikës së Kosovës dhe Republikës së Maltës.". Mfa-ks.net. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  34. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  35. "Lithuania embassy in Rome (also accredited to Malta)". It.mfa.lt. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  36. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  37. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  38. Dutch embassy in Valletta
  39. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  40. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  41. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  42. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  43. "Romanian Foreign Ministry". Mae.ro. 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  44. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  45. "Russian embassy in Valletta". Malta.mid.ru. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  46. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  47. Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Malta
  48. "Maltese representations in Slovakia". Foreign.gov.mt. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  49. "Slovakian representations in Malta". Foreign.gov.mt. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  50. "Slovakian honorary consulate in Valletta". Slovakiamalta.com. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  51. 1 2 "Príhovor podpredsedu vlády SR počas spoločenského podniku pri príležitosti štátneho sviatku SR a 40. výročia nadviazania diplomatických stykov medzi SR a Maltou vo Vallette." (in Slovak). Úrad vlády SR (Slovak Government). Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  52. "Informácia o priebehu a výsledkoch oficiálnej návštevy predsedu vlády SR Mikuláša Dzurindu na Malte v dňoch 18. - 19. júna 2001" (in Slovak). Úrad vlády Slovenskej republiky (Slovak Government). Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  53. "Fico na Malte rokuje s premiérom o skúsenostiach s eurom a obchode" (in Slovak). Hospodárske noviny online. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  54. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  55. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  56. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  57. Spanish embassy in Valletta (in Spanish only) Archived January 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  58. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  59. "Directions of the Swedish honorary consulate in Valletta". Sweden.gov.se. 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  60. Egyptian embassy in Valletta Archived January 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  61. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  62. "Malta among countries targeted for Israeli 'sanctions'". Times of Malta. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  63. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  64. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  65. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  66. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  67. "President meets Governor-General Quentin Bryce in Canberra". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  68. "Visit to Australia by Republic of Malta Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs The Hon Dr Tonio Borg". Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  69. Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade about relations with Malta
  70. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  71. "Ministry of External Affairs (Central Europe Division)" (PDF). India Ministry of External Affairs. March 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  72. "Sorry. The page you are looking for does not exist" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  73. "Consulate of the Republic of Malta New Delhi". Malta.org.in. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  74. http://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%EB%B6%81%ED%95%9C+%EB%AA%B0%ED%83%80+%EC%88%98%EA%B5%90&sm=top_hty&fbm=0&ie=utf8
  75. "Malta, Pakistan review, strengthen bilateral ties.". Pakistan Press International. June 14, 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-04. Malta and Pakistan agreed to continue ongoing cooperation between them in United Nations and other international forums during talks between Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and his visiting Malta counterpart Dr. Michael Frendo. Kasuri and Dr. Frendo reviewed bilateral ties to strengthen relations between two...
  76. "Pakistan ties". Associated Press of Pakistan in Daily Malta. Retrieved 2009-06-04. Pakistan and Malta Wednesday agreed to continue the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the United Nations and other international forums as well. This was observed in a meeting of Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri and Foreign Minister of Malta Dr. Michael Frendo here. The two foreign ministers reviewed bilateral ties with a view to strengthening relations between Pakistan and Malta in all spheres, especially trade and investment.
  77. "Pakistan, Malta agree to continue ongoing cooperation at international forums". Asia Pulse. June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-04. Pakistan and Malta Wednesday agreed to continue the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the United Nations and other international forums as well. This was observed in a meeting of Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri and Foreign Minister of Malta Dr. Michael Frendo here....
  78. "Maltese jailed for trafficking Pakistani babies". MaltaMedia Online Network. May 24, 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-04. In March 2002, Dennis Charles was arrested with six other people by Palestinian authorities, after a tip-off that they held 11 babies, aged between ten days and two months, to be trafficked illegally to Malta. The babies were found in Gulshan-I-Iqbal in Karachi, and were placed in care.
  79. "Pakistani human traffickers use Malta as staging post for Europe". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 2009-06-04. A Pakistan-based human trafficking ring has set up a successful business in Malta, where Pakistanis seeking illegal entry into mainland Europe are being furnished with new travel documents and transported on to Italy and Spain, according to a report published in a leading Pakistani daily newspaper on Friday.
  80. http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070823/1_24604.jsp?menu=m_30_40
  81. http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/press/pressreleases/index.jsp?menu=m_10_20&sp=/webmodule/htsboard/template/read/engreadboard.jsp%3FtypeID=12%26boardid=302%26seqno=315067
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.