VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government condemned the decision of the Russian Federation to formally recognise the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk territories.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the decision breached Ukrainès territorial integrity and sovereignty and is inconsistent with the Principles of the United Nations Charter, while it also breaches the Minsk Agreement and undermines the possibility of a diplomatic solution.
It said that, together with the European Union, Malta reiterated its support towards Ukrainès sovereignty and territorial integrity within recognised international borders, and also the sovereign right to choose its own foreign and security policy.
The Foreign Ministry stated that Malta is also concerned on the increase of bombs reported around the contact line, thus leading to an increase in victims and the number of ceasefire breaches registered by the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
Malta strongly reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy should prevail and followed by all sides, while the ministry added that in this critical moment, Malta is also having contacts with European partners.
Once more, Malta called for a peaceful solution to the Eastern Ukraine conflict, according to the Minsk Agreement approved by the UN Security Council resolution 2202 (2015), and invited all parties to sustain their engagements, respect international law and return to discussions within the Normandy Format and the Group of Trilateral Contact.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A delegation from the Vatican was recently in Malta for three days of meetings to discuss Popès Francis visit with the Maltese civil and church authorities. Pope Francis will be visiting Malta between 2 and 3 April.

It is being proposed that Pope Francis arrives in Malta on Saturday morning, 2nd April and not in the afternoon as planned in the 2020 programme which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the first day of the visit, the Pope will have official talks with Maltàs highest authorities in Valletta and following some rest, he will travel to Gozo in the afternoon. 32 years since the visit of Pope John Paul II, the Madonna tà Pinu National Sanctuary will once again receive the head of the Catholic Church. It is being proposed that the Pope meets the elderly, diseased and vulnerable persons at the Madonna tà Pinu sanctuary. It is also proposed that in the square outside the sanctuary, the Pope will lead a moment of prayers with Marian themes in the presence of the public.

On his second day in Malta, Pope Francis will visit St Paul’s grotto in Rabat, celebrates Sunday Mass at the Floriana Granaries; and meets migrants at ?al Far’s Peace Laboratory.

The delegation from the Popès voyages office visited the places and routes proposed in the programme. The programme will be official when it is announced by the Vatican following the Popès approval.

Pope Francis visit to Malta will coincide a week after Malta votes to elect a new parliament and a new government.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A group of 68 migrants amongst whom are several women and three children are in danger in the Maltese search and rescue area. This was confirmed by the non-governmental organisation Alarm Phone.
The NGO said that a boat, which had left from Libya, sent out a distress call. Alarm Phone informed the authorities that the boat was adrift in the Maltese search and rescue region.
Alarm Phone is urging the Maltese authorities to intervene.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta will held its general election on 26 March. This was announced this morning by Maltese Prime Minister and Labour leader Robert Abela. Addressing party supporters in Floriana, Abela recalled that he always said that the general election would be held when it is in the national interest. “The future is bright because we are strong in the present,” Abela declared. He remarked that despite the global pandemic, “lives and the economy were saved and now political stability has been re-established”.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne declared that the local health authorities would not need to give the fourth dose against COVID-19 as he announced that 79% of adults in Malta have been given a booster dose. “It is a very high rate which give us peace of mind to cautiously remove all restrictions,” declared Minister Fearne. 1,233,948 vaccine doses have been administered to date, 339,312 of which are booster doses. Minister Fearne said that as from March 14, the wearing of mask will no longer remain mandatory in outdoor public spaces. However, mask wearing will still remain obligatory for indoor spaces such as offices and shops, and for mass events. He added that by the beginning of the summer season almost all measures will be removed. “This will be done cautiously as other countries like Sweden who have removed all measures at once are now giving a fourth dose after seeing a spike in new cases,” rremarked Fearne. He added that the removing of mandatory vaccination to access restaurants, bars, gyms, and other public spaces, did not increase the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, quarantine periods will be reduced for fully vaccinated people. From February 21, primary contacts who are fully vaccinated will see their quarantine period go down from seven to five days. From March 7, the quarantine period will be completely removed for primary contacts if Covid cases remain under control and whoever tests positive and their household contacts will also see their quarantine period go down to seven days from the current 10. Fully vaccinated children can go back to school after five days. Fully vaccinated travellers entering Malta from red listed countries will also see their quarantine period reduced to seven days from 7 March. Meanwhile, the health authorities confirmed that 109 new Covid-19 cases were found. With 292 recoveries, the number of active cases is 1,197. 45 patients are being treated for Covid-19 in hospital, three of whom are in intensive care. No new deaths were announced, with the number of people who died since the beginning of the pandemic in Malta is 594.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A 50-year-old Italian man who had arrived in Malta in 2011 and lived in Madrid was sentenced to six years and six months in prison by the Maltese judiciary after admitting instead of standing a trial, that he imported more than half a kilo of cocaine that was not for his personal use.
The man had arrived in Malta carrying 66 capsules in his stomach. He was also fined € 7,000. On May 9, 2011, the Italian decided to seek medical attention at St. James Hospital due to intestinal problems and consistent severe stomach pain.
The Maltese police searched the hotel room where he was staying, where among other things, 18 capsules were found.
The amount of cocaine found totals to 658.91 grams with a purity of about 28%.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Council of Europe (CoE) has renewed its call to the Maltese authorities to identify all people involved in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, that justice is done and appealed to the Maltese government to implement the recommendations of the inquiry into the murder.
The declaration by the Council of Europe was published on the same day the Maltese Deputy Attorney General said in court that there were probably other people involved in the Daphne Caruana Galizia assassination. In a published report following the visit to Malta in October 2021, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic, argued that the Maltese government should put into effect the recommendations on safeguarding media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists, protecting the lives and dignity of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and strengthening women’s rights. Mijatovic explained that “the top priority for the government should be to set in motion vital legislative and other reforms to fully implement the recommendations of the public inquiry report which found the state responsible for her assassination, and to comply with international standards. The effective involvement of civil society in this process and ensuring accountability and transparency at all stages are key”.
Mijatovic called for a co-ordinated response against threats and also warned that the adoption of a new law to provide greater protection for journalists should not result in state interference in the regulation of their profession and invites the media community to adopt an effective system of self regulation.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Two Maltese men were arrested by the Maltese authorities for drug trafficking from Sicily to Malta. The two men have been arrested over a cannabis find of 34kg with an estimated value of € 700,000. The imported drugs from Sicily were stored in a garage in Zebbug. On Saturday evening, the Police Drugs Squad, followed a van after it arrived from Sicily. The garage was surrounded by the police, after two cars were stopped from leaving the property.
The police found €300,000 in cash, and the cannabis, which was hidden in a hollowed-out section of the van.
The men were charged with trafficking, drug possession and money laundering among other charges. Both pleaded not guilty however they were remanded in custody.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The NGO Alarm Phone accused the Armed Forces of Malta of giving orders to a merchant ship not to intervene to save a group of migrants in the Maltese search and rescue area. The NGO added that the Armed Forces of Malta was monitoring the group of 88 migrants from the air.

However, the group of migrants, including a baby and 27 unaccompanied minors have been rescued by Ocean Viking – a humanitarian vessel chartered from July 2019 by SOS Mèditerranèe.

The humanitarian NGO explained that the group was on board an overcrowded wooden boat when they found themselves in distress in the Libyan search and rescue region after the engine had broken down.

There are currently a total of 181 migrants on board the Ocean Viking.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The newly elected President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola made her first official visit following her election last month.
On Thursday she met with George Vella, the President of Malta describing the discussions as “very interesting”.
During the meeting, Metsola emphasised on the importance that the European Parliament reaches out to people in all EU Member States and the importance of bringing the European project closer to the citizens of the bloc.
Vella and Metsola also discussed the role of the EU in confronting challenges brought about by the global pandemic and globalisation. Maltàs role within the European Union was also discussed.
President George Vella said there was a need for greater awareness about the European Parliament’s work and how this impacts the daily lives of the European citizens.
He added that the discussions with the newly elected President of the European Parliament gave a clear explanation of the vision and goals with which Metsola is carrying out her duties and functions.
Moreover, both sides discussed the challenges in the Mediterranean and the current escalation of tension between Russia and Ukraine.
Later in the day, Metsola paid a visit to the site in Bidnija where Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated outside her family home on 16 October 2017.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews