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THE BRIDGE ISSUE 1
The
Bridge
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS . MALTA.
Tissokta l-ħidma diplomatika.
Ix-xahar ta’ April kien impenjattiv għall-Ministru għall-Affarijiet Barranin Dr.George W.Vella, bl-ewwel impenn
kien dak mal-Prim Ministru Dr.Joseph Muscat fis-summit UE-Afrika fi Brussell, fejn intlaħaq ftehim fuq l-
immigrazzjoni rregolari mal-President tan-Niġerja Goodluck Jonathan. Fir-ritratt il-Ministru Vella jidher mal-
Ministru tal-Affarijiet Barranin tan-Niġerja, Aminu Wali.
APRIL 2014
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 2
Ftit tal-jiem wara, il-Ministru Dr.George Vella laqa’ f’Malta lid-deputat Prim Ministru u Ministru tal-Affarijiet
Barranin tal-Moldova, Natalia Gherman, fejn wara laqgħa biltarali fil-Ministeru ġie iffirmat ftehim li jelimina t-
taxxa doppja, u dikjarazzjoni konġunta fuq l-għajnuna li Malta tista’ toffri lill-Moldova għall-integrazzjoni
Ewropea.
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 3
Matul dan ix-xahar ukoll il-Ministru Vella ġie intervistat minn Debating Europe li hija pjattaforma Ewropea li
permezz ta’ mistoqsijiet li jidħlu minn ċittadini Ewropej, isir kuntatt ma’ diversi Ministri u Kapijiet ta’ Stati
Ewropej. Is-suġġett kien l-Ukrajna, u Debating Europe iddeċieda li jagħti importanza kbira għal dak li wieġeb
fuq dan is-suġġett, il-Ministru Dr.George Vella.
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 4
Impenn ieħor tal-Ministru kienet il-laqgħa tal-kunsill tal-Ministri tal-Affarijiet Barranin tal-Unjoni Ewropea, kif
ukoll il-laqgħa tal-grupp Mediterranju magħruf bhala Med 7, f’Alicante fi Spanja. Matul din il-laqgħa l-Ministri
ddiskutew il-problema tal-immmigrazzjoni rregolari u qablu fuq dikjarazzjoni li tagħmel emfasi fuq is-
solidarjeta’, it-tqassim ġust tar-responsabbilta’ għall-immigranti, ir-rilokazzjoni u r-ripatriazzjoni ta’ dawk l-
immigranti li ma jkunux ingħataw ażil.
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 5
Ambassador Vanessa Frazier
honoured by the French Government
HE Vanessa Frazier, a
career diplomat currently
serving as Malta’s
Ambassador in Rome, has
been awarded the
Chevalier de l’Ordre
national du Mérite (French
Medal of Honour) by
French Ambassador to
Malta, H.E. Michel
Vanderpoorter. Foreign
Minister George Vella
attended this event held
at the Ambassador’s
residence in Siggiewi.
French Ambassador, HE
Vanderpoorter cited for
Ambassador Frazier for
her work in European and
Mediterranean defence
and security and for her
humanitarian work.
Stating that through this
honour, France is
recognizing the important
role played by Malta
during the Arab Spring
and the Libyan revolution
in particular, he pointed
out that whilst numerous
government entities and
officials worked tirelessly
to evacuate thousands of
foreign nationals from
Libya, Ambassador Frazier
travelled regularly into
Libya to evacuate injured
aid workers, foreign
journalists as well as
Libyan nationals, putting
herself at risk to assist
others and thus going
over and above her call of
duty.
In accepting the honour,
Ambassador Frazier
thanked the French
Government for the
recognition it is giving to
Malta’s role as well as to
the part she played in
Malta’s response to the
Libyan revolution. She
thanked her family, in
particular her husband,
without whom she would
not have been able to
achieve the healthy work-
life balance she has. She
thanked her mother for
always encouraging her to
aim high and to chase her
dreams and her team at
the Defence Matters
Directorate. She also
stated that she hoped that
this new achievement
would encourage young
persons, especially girls,
that they too can aim high
and achieve their dreams.
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 6
Tislima lill-Ambaxxatur Joseph Cole
li temm il-kariga tiegħu minn Segretarju
Permanenti fil-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin.
L-Ambaxxatur Joseph Cole
temm il-kariga tiegħu
bħala Segretarju
Permanenti fil-Minsiteru
għall-Affarijiet Barranin,
hekk kif mill-aħħar ta’
April beda jservi bħala
Ambaxxatur għal Malta
f’The Hague, l-Olanda. L-
Ambaxxatur Cole ilu fil-
Ministeru għall-affarijiet
barranin sa mill-1977.
Huwa serva bhala Konslu
Ġenerali għal Malta
f’Sydney l-Awstralja mill-
1983 sal-1985, u kien
ukoll parti mid-
delegazzjoni presidenzjali
tal-kummerc fi zjara fl-
Awstralja u f’Singapore fl-
1986.
Fl-1998, is-Sur Cole serva
bħala deputat
Kummissjonarju Għoli
f’Londra, u għal diversi
snin kien rappreżentant
għal Malta fis-Summit
Dinji għall-Izvilupp
Sostenibbli fl-Afrika t’isfel.
Fis-sena 2003 sas-sena
2006, l-Ambaxxatur Cole
rrappreżenta lil Malta
f’diversi konferenzi tal-
Unjoni Ewropea. Is-Sur
Cole kien ukoll maħtur
bhala Vici President tal-
kummissjoni Nazzjonali
Maltija tal-UNESCO, u kien
ukoll membru tal-Kunsill
Malti għall-iżvilupp
ekonomiku u soċjali. Fis-
sena 2012, is-Sur Cole
inħatar Ambaxxatur għal
Malta fl-Istati Uniti fejn
ippreżenta l-kredjenzjali
tiegħu lill-President
Amerikan Barack Obama.
Hekk kif temm il-kariga
tiegħu minn Segretarju
Permanenti fil-Ministeru
għall-affarijiet barranin, il-
Ministru għall-affarijiet
barranin Dr.George
W.Vella irringrazzjah għax-
xogħol siewi tiegħu matul
din l-aħħar sena, u
awguralu għall-kariga
ġdida tiegħu f’The Hague.
Is-segretarju permanenti
ġdid tal-Ministeru għall-
Affarijiet Barranin hija l-
Ambaxxatur Fiona - Jayne
Formosa.
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THE BRIDGE ISSUE 1
Diplomacy at heart
By High Commissioner in Australia Charles Muscat
Since, my appointment on the
25th September 2013, as High
Commissioner I have been very
busy keeping in touch with close
contacts established prior to my
appointment.
Furthermore, as Head of
Mission, coming from the private
sector, I gave the High
Commission a new approach in
every aspect of the daily
operation of the offices,
reflecting professionalism and
efficiency. It can be said that
since my appointment, I
welcomed many Maltese from
various states to the Office.
Opening the doors of the Mission
to the community, has been very
well received and appreciated by
all.
Beside his diplomatic work, I
started conducting official visits
to the Maltese community in
every state. The Maltese
community has welcomed my
appointment with open arms and
accepted the fact that being one
of them, is an asset and they
also showed their appreciation
towards the Government that
have picked a representative
from amongst them.
Furthermore, during my state
visits, I took the opportunity to
meet with various business
leaders.
I also met with certain business
people and business groups that
have a strong interest in
investing in Malta.
At every opportunity, I promote
Malta as a hub in the
Mediterranean and a bridge
between the North African coast
and Europe.
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 8
Niltaqgħu ma’
l-Ambaxxatur għal Malta fl-Awstrija, Keith Azzopardi.
Li tirrapreżenta lil pajjiżek barra
minn xtutna, mhux biss hu unur
iżda wkoll responsabbilta’. Bħal
kull professjoni oħra, hu
mportanti li jkollok namur għax-
xogħol li tkun qed tagħmel, jew li
tirrapreżenta, f’dan il-każ Malta,
iżda wkoll li tkun kuntent fl-
ambjent –il ġdid li tkun qed tgħix
fih. F’dan ir-rigward, l-Awstrija
mhux biss hu pajjiż li joffri
opportunitajiet interessanti għal
pajjiżna iżda hu wkoll pajjiż
b’kultura, storja u ambjent mill-
isbah.
F’temp ta’ ftit xhur mill-ħatra ta’
Ambaxxatur, kelli l-opportunita’ li
nesperjenza diversi avvenimenti
mportanti lill’hinn mid-doveri u
inizjattivi kemm fil-qasam
bilaterali u dawk multilaterali.
Fosthom kien hemm iż-Żjara
Statali tal-E.T. ex-President ta’
Malta Dr George Abela kif ukoll
iċ-Ċermenxip ta’ Malta tal-Forum
tal-Koperazzjoni fis-Sigurta’ tal-
Organizzazzjoni tas-Sigurta’ u l-
Koperazzjoni fl-Ewropa (OSCE).
Esperjenzi li mhux biss ġabu
l’quddiem isem pajjiżna iżda
wkoll li nibqa nġorr miegħi fis-
snin li ġejjin.
Li tghix f’pajjiż barrani, huma
diversi l-isfidi personali li wieħed
jgħaddi minnhom. Iżda huma
wkoll diversi l-esperjenzi li jkollok
sabiex tapprezza kemm is-
sbuħija naturali u rikkezzi oħra li
joffri pajjiż, bhall-Awstrija.
Għaldaqstant, hadt l-opportunita’
li nżur kemm id-diversi
mużewijiet u postijiet storiċi kif
ukoll reġjuni differenti tal-pajjiż
fil-ħin liberu tiegħi, b’mod
partikolari l-kampanja.
Madanakollu, xejn u l-ebda ħaġa
ma tħassar in-nostalġija lejn
pajjiżek. Malta hu pajjiż li,
minkejja ċ-ċokon u l-
limitazzjonijiet tiegħu għandu
ħafna x’joffri, inkluż rikkezzi
storiċi u naturali. Fuq kollox, l-
ospitalita’ tagħna l-Maltin hi
karatteristika li bħalha għad irrid
nara f’pajjiżi oħra.
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 9
A dentist to get you ready for the red carpet!
By Chantal Sciberras. Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of Malta in Dublin
Dublin boasts of a Maltese lady who makes us proud
thanks to her hard work, as well as Maltese warmth
and personality. This is Dr Nicola Zammit, a highly-
trained dentist who has made Dublin her home. Nicola
qualified as a dentist in Malta in 2004 after which she
furthered her education in Sheffield, UK. In 2007, she
travelled to Dublin and decided to give her career a
shot in Ireland, after falling in love with the country.
She took up the position of Senior House Officer in
Trinity College Dublin Dental School and Hospital
and stayed on working as a Clinical Supervisor
attaining more experience in the various fields of
dentistry. Ever since, she has worked in various
hospitals and private practices, and has worked
alongside world-leaders in different fields of dentistry,
equipping her with a great set of skills and experience.
Nicola’s achievements encouraged her to establish her
own dental practice in Malahide, Co. Dublin. Since
opening for business in April 2013, Ivory Dental has
been nominated for several awards and in January
2014 was awarded the Most Attractive Practice Title
in 2014, due to Nicola’s emphasis on not just
providing the best quality service, but also a relaxed
environment that would hopefully help dispel the
usual jitters (terror for some) in advance of a dentist’s
appointment.
Meanwhile, Nicola’s skills as well as natural charm
(which one may easily attribute to her nationality)
brought her in contact with several celebrities
including Rihanna, a favourite artist of hers. Whilst
preparing to attend Rihanna’s concert in Dublin in
2012, Nicola was called in for an emergency at the O2
arena. Little did she know that she would be treating
the same singer she was about to see live on stage.
Nicola’s experience led her to being a key contact for
artists visiting Dublin and in this case, her skills were
required to make a set of grills that would be used for
Rihanna’s “You Da One” music video. Nicola proved
to be not only a highly-skilled professional but, during
her conversation with Rihanna, discovered that they
shared much in common, since they are both originally
from warm island states. The encounter was posted on
Rihanna’s website and this video provides a little
insight as to what happened on the day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEy7aZraHAA&fe
ature=youtube_gdata_player
Well, in the event of a red-carpet dental emergency,
we certainly know who to call in Dublin!
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THE BRIDGE ISSUE 1
Il-Maltin ta’ barra... fuq is-Social Media
Minn Walter Sultana.
Meta konna żgħar żgur li niftakru
programmi televiżivi fuq ix-Xandir
tal-istat li kienu jġibu fuq ħutna l-
Maltin li emigraw lejn artijiet
oħra. B’mod partikolari, ma
nistgħux ma niftakrux il-
programm dwar il-Maltin fl-
Awstralja bl-isem tad-diska
popolari u tal-widna ‘Waltzing
Matilda’. Dawn it-tip ta’
programmi żammewna aġġornati
mal-mod kif qed jgħixu il-Maltin
fl-artijiet li laqgħuhom.
Fuq ix-Xandir niftakar ukoll
programmi oħra li taw ħarsa lejn
l-emigrazzjoni tal-Maltin mal-
erbat irjieħat tad-Dinja, fosthom
il-programm immexxi mill-eks
kollega tal-Ministeru tal-Affarijiet
Barranin is-Sra Doris Zammit, bil-
programm ‘Baqgħu Maltin’.
U kif jixhed propju l-isem tal-
programm ‘Baqgħu Maltin’, il-
Maltin ta’ barra baqgħu jhożżu
b’tant qlubija u dedikazzjoni
ċertu tradizzjonijiet u dak kollu li
hu marbut mal-kultura Maltija.
Illum din l-espressjoni ta’ dak
kollu li baqa’ jagħmilhom Maltin
insibuha f’għadd ta’ paġni fuq is-
social media b’mod partikolari
fuq Facebook. Il-Maltin ta’ barra
raw Facebook bħala ħolqa oħra
fil-katina ta’ mezzi biex iżommu
ruħhom aġġornati u fl-istess
waqt iħeġġu lil ħuthom Maltin li
jgħixu f’Malta u fil-pajjiżi l-oħra
biex jinteraġixxu flimkien u
jaqsmu minjiera ta’
informazzjoni.
Insemmi uħud li iltqajt magħhom
dan l-aħħar fuq Facebook,
fosthom dawk tal-Kanada bil-
‘Maltese Association ta’
Hamilton’; dawk tar-Renju Unit
bil-Maltese Culture Movement –
UK; dawk tal-Awstralja bil- ‘Leħen
il-Malti tal-Awstralja’; ‘Nisġa’; il-
Maltese Community Council of
Victoria; u ma rridux ninsew ukoll
paġni oħra ta’ Maltin li għamlu
suċċess barra minn xtutna,
fosthom tat-Tenur Malti Joseph
Calleja u l-kantanta Sophie
Debattista.
Din il-lista m’hijiex waħda
komprensiva u żgur mhux forsi li
hemm ħafna iktar paġni oħrajn
simili. Ninnutaw li f’dawn il-paġni
jispikka ħafna l-element kulturali
Malti. Speċjalment dak marbut
mal-festi u mat-tradizzjoni
kulinarja, b’xi riċetta tal-figolli,
pudina, u ikel ieħor tipikament
Malti. Tiltaqa’ wkoll ma’ diversi
informazzjoni dwar l-istorja ta’
Malta.
Tajjeb li hawn nieħdu l-
okkażżjoni u nirringrazzjaw lil
dawk kollha li b’mezz jew ieħor
ta’ komunikazzjoni; b’ġurnali, bi
programmi televiżivi, tar-radju u
issa anki bl-internet, iżommu
ħajjin l-interessi tal-Maltin barra
minn Malta. Fl-aħħar mill-aħħar,
bis-saħħa tas-social media, illum
nistgħu ngħidu verament li sirna
lkoll villaġġ wieħed!
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 11
Nota Editorjali
Huwa ta’ pjaċir kbir għalija li qed naħdem fuq din il-pubblikazzjoni online, li l-għan aħħari tagħha hu li sservi
bħala pont bejn il-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u l-Maltin, sew dawk li jgħixu Malta u anki dawk li jgħixu
barra l-pajjiż.
Dawk interessati li jissottomettu ideat jew kontribuzzjonijiet jistgħu jagħmlu kuntatt miegħi fuq :
[email protected]
Maria Muscat
Communications Coordinator
Ministeru Għall-Affarijiet Barranin
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THE BRIDGE | Issue # 12